Ja’Marr Chase added another clip to his ever-growing NFL highlight reel Sunday afternoon, making a gutsy open-field catch before bouncing off three Carolina Panthers tacklers and sprinting 40 yards untouched down the left sideline for six.
The 63-yard touchdown grab proved crucial in Cincinnati’s 34-24 victory over Carolina Sunday but produced an awkward post-game moment as a reporter, curious to the secrets of Chase’s elusive running, asked the star wide receiver, “You got any baby oil on?”
Chase recoiled at the unorthodox inquiry and lighthearted shut down the line of questioning. “We got to keep that for someone else, that’s not my question right there,” Chase replied. “You can’t be asking that anymore, there’s too much going on with life about that.”
OH MY JA'MARR CHASE. ELECTRIC 63-YARD TD.
📺: #CINvsCAR on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/KwYspR7roj— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2024
Instead, the three-time Pro Bowler revealed the extra bit of motivation for his performance came from having his grandparents in the stands for Sunday’s game, who live in the Tar Heel State. After breaking off his lengthy touchdown run, Chase peeled away toward the stands and threw the ball to his father, making sure that the pigskin was gifted to his grandparents.
“I told Tee [Higgins] before the game, ‘If I score I’m going to try to get my grandparents the ball,” Chase continued. “So I actually called it. But it was just a blessing to have the opportunity to still play in front of my grandparents, who are still alive at this moment.”
Chase’s highlight-real grab headlined a productive receiving afternoon, hauling in three grabs for 85 yards. It’s a second-straight top-end outing for the Bengals’ No. 1 wideout, finishing with 118 yards and a pair of touchdown grabs in the Bengals’ barnburning Week 3 defeat against Washington.
Rekindling his prolific connection with former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, Chase’s pair of breakout performances were a welcomed sight for Bengals fans. He began the season with two less prolific performances where he was unable to find the endzone, ramping back up to speed after sitting out nearly the entire summer period due to a heated contract dispute.
Chase has been one of the NFL’s premier receivers since joining the league in 2021, racking up 1,455 yards to earn second-team All-Pro and Offensive Rookie of the Year honors after he was selected fifth overall earlier that year. Despite this success, Chase is currently on his rookie contract and is earning a relatively modest $9.8 million per year, with the star receiver sitting out of training camp in hopes of getting a more lucrative extension passed this summer.
Ultimately, Chase and the franchise were not able to come to an agreement this summer, with the young LSU product now completely focused on helping Cincinnati overcome a humbling 0-3 start to 2024. “All this BS that was going on this offseason and prior to the season, I’m just happy that it’s over with,” Chase said, via Ben Baby of ESPN. “I’m finally playing ball and having fun with the guys. That’s what matters most for me.”
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