Ja'Marr Chase Says Bengals Should Play Starters in Preseason to Avoid Costly Slow Starts

Chase appeared to convince himself that playing in the preseason was key to early success, in an exchange with reporters at OTAs.

James Williams #52 of the Tennessee Titans tackles Ja'Marr Chase #1 of the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Dec. 15, 2024. Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase wants the team’s starters to play in the preseason.

The Bengals have had slow starts in each of the past three seasons, and have started 0-2 or worse in all but one of Zac Taylor’s six seasons as head coach. At a press gaggle after OTAs practice on Tuesday, Chase pointed out that he and his fellow first-stringers have not played meaningful snaps in any of his years as a pro, and said playing time was the key to avoid stumbling out of the gate.