NOWCAST WLWT News 5 Today
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Burrow's recovery, new additions and contract talks: Ja'Marr Chase speaks in return to Cincinnati
Olivia Ray
Sports Reporter
Burrow's recovery, new additions and contract talks: Ja'Marr Chase speaks in return to Cincinnati
OF THEIR VOLUNTARY OFF SEASON WORKOUTS THIS WEEK. THE ROOKIES JOINED THE VETS THE LAST FEW DAYS AS JOE BURROW CONTINUES TO TAKE STEPS IN HIS WRIST. RECOVERY. WIDE RECEIVER ONE AND TWO. WELL, THEY HAVEN’T BEEN AT PAYCOR STADIUM YET. HOWEVER, I CAUGHT UP WITH JAMAAR CHASE EARLIER TODAY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY HIS OFFSEASON HAS ENTAILED. I’VE BEEN IN DALLAS, IN MIAMI, WORKING OUT ON AND OFF THE FIELD. UM, AND, AND YOU KNOW, I’VE BEEN WORKING ON, YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS I CAN RIGHT NOW ON RELEASES CATCHING, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS THE GAME CAN TAKE ME. YOU SEEN JOE CONNECTED WITH HIM WHILE YOU’VE BEEN BACK IN TOWN OR SEEN HIM SINCE HE’S BEEN BACK TO THROWING THE FOOTBALL? YEAH. UM, ACTUALLY, ME AND JOE THREW ONE TIME, AND, UH, CALIFORNIA, YOU KNOW, I ACTUALLY TOOK A TRIP TO TO GO TAKE A CHANCE AND JUST GO SEE HIM AND HANG WITH HIM FOR A TIME. AND THAT WAS OUR FIRST TIME THROWING, YOU KNOW, AFTER I THINK THAT WAS HIS, LIKE HIS FOURTH SESSION WHEN HE FIRST STARTED TO THROW. SO I CAUGHT HIM EARLY. AND HOW DID HE LOOK? HE LOOKED GOOD. HE STILL LOOKED LIKE JOE. I MEAN, HE HE’S ALWAYS PROGRESS TO BE MADE. BUT YOU KNOW, IT’S ONLY THE BEGINNING. JERMAINE BURTON, NEW BENGALS, SAID HE’S ALREADY TOUCHED BASE WITH YOU. YOU WERE ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO REACH OUT TO HIM. WHAT ARE YOUR INITIAL THOUGHTS? FROM WHAT YOU’VE SEEN FROM THE ROOKIE WIDE RECEIVER? I KNOW I’M ALREADY WE ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH EACH OTHER BECAUSE I HOSTED HIM IN COLLEGE. UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF MY RECEIVER COACHES, YOU KNOW, ENDED UP LETTING ME BE A HOST. AND, YOU KNOW, HE WAS ONE OF THE PROSPECTS THAT WE HAD. AND, YOU KNOW, HE’S A HE’S A GOOD KID OVERALL, MAN. I CAN’T WAIT TO PLAY WITH HIM. YOU KNOW THERE’S SO MUCH TO HIS GAME THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, HE HAS YOU KNOW WHAT I’M SAYING? I THINK HE HE’S GOING TO BRING TO THE TABLE A GOOD BIT OF MORE SKILL FOR US TO PLAY AROUND WITH AND MAKE MORE OF. THE OFFENSE WILL BE FUN. AND WE TALKED TO KATIE BLACKBURN SEVERAL WEEKS BACK SAYING NEGOTIATIONS HAD NOT STARTED YET. IS THAT IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND RIGHT NOW, OR ARE YOU NOT EVEN WORRIED ABOUT THAT HEADING INTO THIS SEASON, KNOWING THAT THEY’VE ALREADY CHECKED THE BOX WITH THE FIFTH YEAR OPTION, YOU’RE HERE TO STAY RIGHT NOW, BUT EVEN THINKING OF THAT RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW, NO, I MEAN, IT’S TOO MUCH FOR ME TO THINK ABOUT RIGHT NOW. I JUST GOT TO WORRY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GETTING BETTER AT THE GAME AND WORKING OUT, MAKING SURE I’M READY WHEN THEY DO CALL ME AND WHEN I DO GO BACK. SO CONVERSATIONS HAVE NOT STARTED YET. UM, I DON’T KNOW. I’M NOT ON THE PHONE, SO I DON’T KNOW WHAT’S BEING TALKED ABOUT AT THE MOMENT, SO I CAN’T SAY YES OR NO. BACK TO JOE. IF HE IS HEALTHY, WHAT IS YOUR CEILING? YOU GUYS GOT YOUR SCHEDULE LOCKED IN NOW. SO WHAT CAN YOU GUYS ACCOMPLISH THIS SEASON? YEAH, UM, THE SKY’S THE LIMIT, RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW WHAT I’M SAYING? AND I THINK WE JUST ADDED MORE PIECES TO THE OFFENSIVE LINE. THAT JUST MADE US A LOT BETTER AND A LOT SCARIER. AND THEN, UM, ANOTHER RECEIVER IN A GROUP, WE TRIED TO REPLACE TYLER BOYD. AND, UM, I THINK THAT’
Advertisement
Burrow's recovery, new additions and contract talks: Ja'Marr Chase speaks in return to Cincinnati
Olivia Ray
Sports Reporter
Sunday, Cincinnati Bengals star wideout Ja'Marr Chase returned to Cincinnati for the first time since the Bengals picked up his fifth-year option last month. He was in town giving back to the Cincinnati community, hosting a football camp at Princeton High School for hundreds of kids, from first through 11th grade. Raising Cane's, in conjunction with Hard Count, served as presenting sponsor of Chase's camp, the three-time Pro Bowler's first youth football event in the Cincinnati-area. In between sessions, Chase spoke with WLWT about his offseason and to preview the upcoming year for the Bengals.Despite having not worked out with his Bengals teammates this year during voluntary workouts, Chase says he's still getting work in, splitting workout time between Dallas and Miami."I've been working on as much as I can right now; releases, catching. As far as the game can take me," he said.For Olivia Ray's full discussion with Ja'Marr Chase, head to the video player at the top of this story.Even though Chase hasn't been with the team since activities began, he hasn't been completely out of touch with his long-time signal caller Joe Burrow. The two first-round picks met on the west coast earlier this offseason, with Chase getting an early first look at Burrow's post-surgery recovery process. "Me and Joe threw one time in California. I actually took a trip to go see him and hang with him for a time. That was our first time throwing after . I think that was his fourth session when he first started to throw. He looked good. He still looked like Joe. There's always progress to be made, but it's only the beginning."Cincinnati's receiving corps will look a bit different in 2024, with the departure of long-time Bengal Tyler Boyd in free agency. To fill that gap, the Bengals spent a third-round pick on Alabama wide receiver Jermaine Burton. It's a relationship that already has roots, according to Chase, and he thinks Burton will bring a lot to the table as a rookie."We're already familiar with each other because I hosted him in college. One of my receivers coaches let me be a host and he was one of the prospects that we had. He's a good kid, overall. I can't wait to play with him. There's so much to his game that he has. I think he's going to bring to the table a good bit of more skill for us to play around with and let the offense be fun."Chase's fifth-year option has been picked up for the 2025 season, but all eyes are set on him to be the Bengals' next big-ticket contract extension. However, Chase says, it's not top of his mind entering the year, but he'll be ready when it's time for that conversation to begin."It's too much for me to think about. Right now I just have to worry about getting better at the game, making sure I'm ready when they do call me and when I do go back."When pressed further on if conversations have or haven't begun, Chase did not bite."I'm not on the phone, so I don't know what's being talked about at the moment. So, I can't say yes or no."
CINCINNATI —

Sunday, Cincinnati Bengals star wideout Ja'Marr Chase returned to Cincinnati for the first time since the Bengals picked up his fifth-year option last month.

Advertisement

He was in town giving back to the Cincinnati community, hosting a football camp at Princeton High School for hundreds of kids, from first through 11th grade.

Raising Cane's, in conjunction with Hard Count, served as presenting sponsor of Chase's camp, the three-time Pro Bowler's first youth football event in the Cincinnati-area.

In between sessions, Chase spoke with WLWT about his offseason and to preview the upcoming year for the Bengals.

Despite having not worked out with his Bengals teammates this year during voluntary workouts, Chase says he's still getting work in, splitting workout time between Dallas and Miami.

"I've been working on as much as I can right now; releases, catching. As far as the game can take me," he said.

For Olivia Ray's full discussion with Ja'Marr Chase, head to the video player at the top of this story.

Even though Chase hasn't been with the team since activities began, he hasn't been completely out of touch with his long-time signal caller Joe Burrow. The two first-round picks met on the west coast earlier this offseason, with Chase getting an early first look at Burrow's post-surgery recovery process.

"Me and Joe threw one time in California. I actually took a trip to go see him and hang with him for a time. That was our first time throwing after [wrist surgery]. I think that was his fourth session when he first started to throw. He looked good. He still looked like Joe. There's always progress to be made, but it's only the beginning."

Cincinnati's receiving corps will look a bit different in 2024, with the departure of long-time Bengal Tyler Boyd in free agency. To fill that gap, the Bengals spent a third-round pick on Alabama wide receiver Jermaine Burton. It's a relationship that already has roots, according to Chase, and he thinks Burton will bring a lot to the table as a rookie.

"We're already familiar with each other because I hosted him in college. One of my receivers coaches let me be a host and he was one of the prospects that we had. He's a good kid, overall. I can't wait to play with him. There's so much to his game that he has. I think he's going to bring to the table a good bit of more skill for us to play around with and let the offense be fun."

Chase's fifth-year option has been picked up for the 2025 season, but all eyes are set on him to be the Bengals' next big-ticket contract extension. However, Chase says, it's not top of his mind entering the year, but he'll be ready when it's time for that conversation to begin.

"It's too much for me to think about. Right now I just have to worry about getting better at the game, making sure I'm ready when they do call me and when I do go back."

When pressed further on if conversations have or haven't begun, Chase did not bite.

"I'm not on the phone, so I don't know what's being talked about at the moment. So, I can't say yes or no."