Ja'Marr Chase's Slow Start: Why the Bengals Star Isn't Worried

The Cincinnati Bengals offense is humming. Joe Burrow is playing at an MVP pace, and Tee Higgins has been one of the NFL's most productive wide receivers.

Mike Gesicki is having one of the best seasons of his career, especially as a scorer, with 13 catches for 165 yards and five touchdowns. He'll look for his sixth touchdown against the Titans on Sunday.

However, few expected Ja'Marr Chase to fall behind Higgins in receiving yards, and Higgins is having a noticeably better season.

Higgins has been targeted 50 times, with 33 catches for 571 yards and two touchdowns through six games. Chase, on the other hand, has 45 targets and 32 catches, just one behind Higgins, but the big plays haven't been there, and he has only 351 yards. Still, he's showing off his hands and route running, especially in the red zone, with five touchdowns.

His two long touchdown catches against the Dolphins and Texans earlier in the season reminded everyone he is one of the best wide receivers in football, even if he isn't getting the ball as much.

This is the slowest start of Chase's career through six games, 117 yards behind his previous low, to be exact. The only seasons he was targeted less through six games was 2024 and 2021, when he had just 42 and 41 targets. He had fewer receptions in that span only as a rookie in 2021, with 27 catches through the first six games of his rookie year.

However, he isn't discouraged. He said he is as happy as ever because he's a team-first player and the Bengals are winning. Chase also said Higgins and head coach Zac Taylor can vouch that he has shown no ill will or negativity.

He recently said he thought there were opportunities for him downfield, but he just wasn't getting the ball. It was clear he wasn't upset with his role and isn't worried about his "lack" of production.

Chase will have a chance to break out against a struggling Tennessee Titans team that is even weaker after trading All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons for multiple first-round picks. The Titans have allowed 233 passing yards per game, 24th in the NFL, and opposing quarterbacks have completed 69.2% of their passes, 31st in the league.

The Titans have allowed only six passing touchdowns, the third fewest in the NFL, so watch how that plays out in the red zone for Burrow and the Bengals offense.