The Cincinnati Bengals opened up training camp this week with more sputters than sparks, and Joe Burrow hasn’t held back his frustration.
“Poorly,” he said, per ESPN’s Ben Baby on Wednesday when he fielded questions about the offense. The Bengals kicked off Thursday’s session at Paycor Stadium, and Tee Higgins has continued to be one of the true bright spots for the Bengals since inking his four-year, $115 million contract extension in March.
Burrow found himself scrambling more than usual during 11-on-11 drills. As the sixth-year quarterback explained, the defense just looked sharper. That’s where Ja’Marr Chase stepped in.
“I told him don’t dwell on it,” Chase said. “Let Tee make two of those catches, he wouldn’t be feeling like that.”
Higgins left Thursday’s practice as a precaution to avoid any setback or “soft-tissue muscle injuries” before the season.
Burrow’s Honest Assessment Of Bengals Offense
One thing’s for certain. It’s a positive that Chase and Burrow have gone through the ups and downs before as teammates. They know how to embrace the adversity, despite it being very early in training camp, and they know how to bounce back from missed opportunities and on-field errors.
Burrow sets the bar high. After months of offseason hype and the pressure to get back to Super Bowl contention, he expects more from the team. He also knows that, at this point of his career, rhythm takes time and patience. The defense deserves a ton of credit, especially the corners who blanketed the receivers early on.
“They won the day,” Burrow said after Wednesday’s showing.
Thursday’s practice was different. The passing attack started to gel. Routes were cleaner. Higgins and Chase found windows. The energy shifted in a big way.
Madden Ratings Have Occupied WR1 Through Week 1 Of Camp
After Thursday’s practice, Chase had one more thing on his mind: his Madden rating. The Bengals star was apparently left out of the game’s initial group of 99-overall players. That didn’t sit well.
He even picked up the phone to call former Bengals wideout Chad Johnson — who now helps adjust Madden ratings.
“If he doesn’t [fix it], I’m going to be mad at him,” Chase said.
The Bengals still have over two weeks before their first preseason game, but the early rapport between Burrow and his receivers is going to be something that’s monitored closely. Expect practices to ramp up, especially once the pads go on.
Also, it’s best to be keep an eye on wide receiver depth. Jermaine Burton flashed during individual drills, and Andrei Iosivas continues to push for a bigger role after last year’s late-season flashes.
The offensive line rotations will remain fluid for now, but coaches are watching closely to see who can stick in swing tackle roles and interior backup spots.
So in hindsight, Burrow isn’t creating drama. Far from it. The offense looked flat on Day 1, but the sheer reminder that his pass catchers aren’t worried at this stage speaks volumes.
Between Higgins’ bounce-back performance on Thursday and Chase’s steady presence, there’s no reason to panic in Cincinnati.
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