Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase reveals main reason behind recent NFL struggles

It’s well known that the AFC North is arguably one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL — something that became evident with the underwhelming performance of high-caliber franchises like the Cincinnati Bengals. Ja’Marr Chase, one of the team’s biggest stars, didn’t have his best year, and according to his own words, a particular event may have played a key role in affecting his performance.

Looking back at recent developments within Zac Taylor’s team, one of the most significant storylines was the contract extension saga involving the star wide receiver — something that, according to the former LSU standout, caused his mind to be, quite literally, off the field.

“I could say I wasn’t mentally ready to be on the field,” Chase said on Tuesday regarding this situation. “I was in my own head. You know what I’m saying? I wanted to play, but I was in my own head.”

Now feeling more at ease with the situation, Chase spoke to the media following OTAs and expressed excitement about what lies ahead: “It sounds like we need to play in the preseason, huh?” the talented WR stated, via the Associated Press.

Ja’Marr Chase #1 of the Cincinnati Bengals warms up prior to the game against the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The importance of preseason for Zac Taylor

Many believe that in order to have a great NFL season, preparation is key. This involves not only the initial team activities, but also highly important events like the preseason.

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Zac Taylor is well aware of this reality and knows that, in order to achieve strong results in the upcoming campaign, he’ll need to place special emphasis on these crucial weeks of preparation with his players.

“The one thing I do feel good about is playing our guys in the preseason,” the HC stated, via ESPN. “That’s always subject to change, depending on health and how things go with our team during training camp, but that’s one thing that we’ve openly talked about with our players, and I think will help us as we do it.”

The Bengals’ early season matchups

Becoming a true contender in the league means starting the season on the right foot. The Bengals will need to navigate these early matchups to find out what they’re really made of this year.

• vs Cleveland Browns, September 7th
• vs Jacksonville Jaguars, September 14th
• vs Minnesota Vikings, September 21st
• vs Denver Broncos, September 29th
• vs Detroit Lions, October 5th