Ja'Marr Chase's Preseason Struggles Are Concerning

Ja’Marr Chase hadn’t played in a live game since the 2019 season at LSU, and it has shown so far in the preseason. 

Chase, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, struggled mightily in the Cincinnati Bengals’ preseason matchup with the Washington Football Team this week. 

The rookie had three targets, but he dropped all three passes which certainly leaves some concern about how quickly he will get up to speed to play in NFL games.

WynnBET still has Chase’s odds to win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award at +1100, but it seems like bettors should wait before placing a bet on Chase. 

Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd aren’t going away in Cincinnati, and if Chase struggles, the Bengals can easily bench him or limit his target share with two other solid wideouts on the roster. 

The Chase-Joe Burrow connection has been hyped up in training camp, but it remains to be seen if Chase can truly get his footing in a game after spending so much time away. 

"I talked to them about how I feel right now," Chase said about talking to Burrow and Thaddeus Moss two weeks back about his struggles . "It was plays I knew I could make. I had some drops on them. Thad just told me to relax. 'Rome wasn't built in a day.' That's exactly what he told me. 'Keep a level head.' (Burrow) was saying how we both were out for a year and we have to come back completely different, stronger, faster. The main thing is about being on the same time and getting our stuff together."

The drops have continued into practice, with the latest one coming today on a ball from Burrow.

Not great.

Chase may just be rusty, but with the regular season approaching quickly, he seems like a candidate to stay away from while deciding which futures to bet ahead of Week 1.

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