Bengals transition at tight end while trying to keep their playmaking wide receivers
CINCINNATI -- Bengals franchise receiver Ja'Marr Chase knows his deal will have to wait with quarterback Joe Burrow and receiver Tee Higgins in front of Chase in terms of pending contract negotiation.
The 3rd year pro from LSU told reporters this week during OTA's he's got a few goals for 2023 and he verbalized one of them. "I think the record for catches in a season is 112," Chase said. A media member confirmed that is the team record. "I want to break that, I want to try to break that. We'll see how that goes. That's just one of 'em and I'm only giving yal one though. Only giving yal one."
Chase had 1,046 receiving yards in 2022, just 17 yards more than Higgins who is up for contract renewal. Chase had 87 catches and nine touchdowns. "Only so much can happen. We are waiting on Tee's and Joe's right now. I know I want Tee to stay here as long as possible. I know I want the same thing with Joe. I want those guys by my side as long as we can. They're great teammates, good guys to have around. Sometime we might be, we might lose people. I'm not saying we are . It will come that one day. When that day comes we have to be prepared for it."
At tight end, Hayden Hurst has departed via free agency and veteran Irv Smith is anxious to establish some chemistry and timing with Burrow. "This is a critical time," Smith told reporters. "I'm keying into the details...what Joe does on that third step. Timing is everything.
The Bengals preseason schedule begins on ABC-6 August 11th against the Green Bay Packers.
