After another disappointing season in Cincinnati, the message from two of the Bengals' biggest stars is clear: something’s got to give.
With the Bengals officially missing the playoffs for the third straight year under head coach Zac Taylor, quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase aren’t sugarcoating the situation. The frustration is real, and so is the desire for change. For Chase, that starts with accountability - not just from the team, but from within.
Commitment Over Comfort
Speaking recently about the team’s postseason drought, Chase didn’t point fingers. Instead, he pointed inward.
“It’s really just a commitment thing, man, at the end of the day,” Chase said. “Just gotta commit to yourself playing your part at the end of the day and being there for your teammates. And that was the biggest thing going through these last two years for me.”
That’s a telling quote from one of the league’s top receivers. It’s not about scheme or stats - it’s about showing up, consistently, for the guy next to you. And while the Bengals have had their share of bad luck, especially with injuries, Chase is focused on what he can control.
His own commitment? That’s not in question. The 24-year-old inked a massive four-year, $161 million extension last offseason, with $112 million guaranteed - a clear signal that he’s all in on building something lasting in Cincinnati.
The Burrow Effect - and the Burrow Absence
Of course, it’s hard to talk about the Bengals’ 6-11 finish without mentioning the absence of Joe Burrow. The franchise quarterback missed nine games after suffering a toe injury in Week 2 that eventually required surgery. That kind of loss is seismic - not just for the offense, but for the entire locker room.
Still, despite the setback, head coach Zac Taylor and director of player personnel Duke Tobin remain in place. And with a healthy Burrow expected back in 2026, the Bengals brass seems to be betting on continuity - and on the idea that this core can still compete at a high level.
Chase Isn’t Standing Still
If Chase’s offseason approach is any indication, he’s not taking anything for granted. He’s already back to work, fine-tuning his game with the kind of attention to detail that separates the great from the good.
“I try to change it up a little bit,” Chase said of his offseason training. “Work on new things, new cons that I have, and always fix the pros that I have before the season starts. So it always should be something new I feel like I should work on every offseason.”
That mindset - always evolving, never satisfied - is what’s helped him become one of the league’s most productive wideouts. In 2025, even with Burrow sidelined for much of the year, Chase still managed to haul in 125 catches (third in the NFL), rack up 1,412 receiving yards (fourth), and score eight touchdowns (tied for 11th). Those are elite numbers, especially given the Bengals’ quarterback carousel down the stretch.
A lot of that, Chase says, comes down to his trainer. “I got a good trainer,” he added.
“So a lot of my work comes from my trainer. I tell him what I want to work on.
He sets me up in the right direction with whom I want to meet, talk to, sit down watch film with. He definitely helps me with that too.”
Looking Ahead
The Bengals have the talent. That’s never been the issue.
But talent alone doesn’t punch playoff tickets. Chase knows it.
Burrow knows it. And if the rest of the locker room buys in the way Chase clearly has, 2026 could be the year Cincinnati finally turns the corner.
Because for all the setbacks, the core is still intact. The window is still open. And if Chase’s offseason grind is any indication, the Bengals aren’t planning to waste another year looking in from the outside.