Ja’Marr Chase is headed back to Pittsburgh with history sitting right in front of him.
The Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver is less than 80 yards away from 7,000 for his career, and he can become the fourth-fastest receiver ever to get there. If Chase reaches the mark in 81 games, he would finish ahead of Jerry Rice and Randy Moss, who both got to 7,000 yards in 83 games.
That note came from John Sheeran of A to Z Sports, and it underscores just how rare Chase’s start has been. The Bengals have been watching one of the most gifted receivers of his era, and maybe the best to ever wear stripes.
That chase for 7,000 will unfold in a game that brings Chase back to Pittsburgh for the first time since he spit on Jalen Ramsey. The bigger question now is whether he can stay on the field and avoid whatever extra-curricular attention the Steelers may try to stir up.
Elsewhere around Bengals news, Chase plans to appeal the NFL celebration fine and wants the NFLPA to fight harder for players’ money. The reaction to the union was blunt, with the point made that the NFLPA has to be one of the worst player unions in sports and is lucky if it gets players anything at all.
There was also word from Joe Flacco, who said, “I have no reason to believe I’m getting traded.” The backup quarterback market has become valuable across the league, and the appeal of moving Flacco is tied to the same logic that has made teams lean on backups more than ever. Still, the Bengals do not sound eager to create a hole there.
The Bengals are also getting more respect around the league after a 2-0 start. One ranking had them near the top of the NFL’s unbeaten teams, with the defense doing most of the heavy lifting so far. If that side of the ball keeps this up, the conversation around Cincinnati will shift quickly toward a real championship push.
Around the league, there was also chatter about Porter, who does not sound like he is even fully in football shape. Even with the public insistence that there is no drama, the way he is handling the injury suggests otherwise.
And there is already some confidence building around Cincinnati in broader predictions, too. In one set of expert picks, the Bengals were a clean sweep, with three of five predicting a double-digit win. As the saying goes, “Lay down the “people’s elbow” on them on a Sunday afternoon.”
Looking ahead on the schedule, the Bengals will play the Atlanta Falcons in Madrid later this year. Bijan Robinson figures to be the key player to stop, while the Green Bay Packers defense was described as atrocious. If Michael Penix Jr. starts finding his rhythm, that Falcons offense becomes even tougher to handle.
In Other News...
Bengals Still Have One Awkward Flacco Question Hanging Over Them
Joe Flacco spent part of the week batting away a familiar kind of noise, this time tied to the New York Giants and the possibility of a move that would have thinned the Bengals' quarterback room. He said he has no reason to believe Cincinnati is looking to trade him, and for now he is operating exactly where the team has him, as the backup quarterback and a veteran option waiting in reserve.
Flacco also said trades can still surface out of nowhere, which is part of what keeps these rumors alive even when the player involved is trying not to entertain them. A few friends had fun with the idea of a reunion with Giants head coach John Harbaugh, but Flacco made clear those whispers are not grounded in anything real, leaving the Bengals with the quieter, more awkward question of how much longer this storyline lingers. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Enter Steelers Showdown With One Major Defensive Concern
The Bengals head into their matchup with the Steelers carrying more than the usual early-season injury unease, and the middle of their defense is the spot worth watching most closely. Defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and B.J. Hill have both missed multiple practices, with Allen's absence tied to load management and Hill's availability still unclear, leaving Cincinnati with some uncertainty right where Pittsburgh likes to lean on opponents.
Andrei Iosivas is also expected to land on injured reserve, which trims another option from the mix as the Bengals sort through their lineup for a game that already has a physical feel to it. On the other side, Pittsburgh has its own questions, with cornerback Joey Porter Jr. limited and possibly available, while Michael Pittman and Jaylen Warren were also limited as the Steelers wait for further evaluation heading into Sunday. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Head To Pittsburgh With One Worry And One Huge Boost
Cincinnatis early-season start has come with the kind of uneven moments that can test a good locker room, and Joe Burrow made it clear this week that Orlando Brown Jr. wont be taking the heat alone for the protection issues that showed up in Week 2. Brown allowed three first-half sacks in the win over Houston, but Burrow pointed to the complexity of pass protection as the bigger picture, a reminder that the Bengals are still sorting through some moving parts even as they sit 2-0 after the 20-6 victory over the Texans.
The encouraging news for Cincinnati is that the defensive front keeps looking like a strength, with Jonathan Allen already up to two sacks and expected to be available in Week 3 despite a knee issue. His presence, along with Dexter Lawrence, gives the Bengals a legitimate edge up front as they head to Pittsburgh, where winning the line of scrimmage could matter just as much as any single matchup on the outside. [Read more 🡒]