Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase again addresses heated sideline exchange with HC Zac Taylor
Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase went viral during the club's 28-3 loss at the Denver Broncos on Monday night. ESPN cameras spotted him in an apparent heated exchange with head coach Zac Taylor late in the third quarter.
Shortly after the defeat that dropped Cincinnati to 2-2, Chase said that getting frustrated during a lopsided matchup is sometimes "part of the game." While speaking with reporters on Thursday, he expanded on what did and didn't happen in Denver.
Ja'Marr Chase discusses "overblown" exchange with Zac Taylor
"Everything I do is pretty much overblown," Chase explained, according to Shelby Dermer of the Cincinnati Enquirer. "It happens. That's normal for me and Zac. That's not my first time doing that."
Chase managed only 23 receiving yards on five catches in Monday's loss and sparked attention afterward by saying, "It didn't look like we wanted it," with Jake Browning stepping in for the injured Joe Burrow at quarterback. Burrow may miss the rest of the season with a toe injury, and Taylor insisted this week that he still has "unwavering" confidence in Browning amid rumors the Bengals could soon trade for an upgrade at the position.
"Zac lets me walk up to him and talk to him," Chase said about being allowed to vent to Taylor during games. "...It is good to have. Especially when you're going through a tough game like that. Zac lets me talk to him. He's always willing to listen. He doesn't really push me off or nothing like that."
Ja'Marr Chase addressed Bengals after latest blowout loss
The Bengals were coming off a 48-10 loss at the Minnesota Vikings entering Monday's contest. On Thursday, Chase shared that he addressed the team following its second-straight double-digit defeat.
"I spoke up to the guys after the game about how I felt about what's going on," Chase revealed. "I want guys to play with passion; I want them to play with anger because you never know how they'll respond... I just want them to play with a little more fire and anger."
As of Friday morning, ESPN BET had the Bengals as massive 10.5-point underdogs for Sunday's home game against the 3-1 Detroit Lions. It could be interesting to see how Chase acts on the sideline at Paycor Stadium if that contest becomes a laugher in the second half.
Colts’ Cornerback Depth Gets a Boost with Keenan Garber’s Signing
Colts Sign Undrafted Cornerback Keenan Garber Following Xavien Howard’s Retirement
In a move to strengthen their cornerback depth after the sudden retirement of veteran Xavien Howard, the Indianapolis Colts have signed undrafted rookie Keenan Garber to their practice squad. Garber, who spent training camp with the Minnesota Vikings, has the potential to be a hidden gem for the Colts’ secondary.
Garber’s football journey has been anything but conventional. He began his collegiate career as a wide receiver at Kansas State before making a transition to cornerback. Over the past six seasons, Garber developed into a key defensive player, making 17 starts and accumulating 52 tackles, 11 passes defended, and two interceptions, one of which was a 45-yard pick-six. Despite being waived by the Vikings after the preseason, Garber’s impressive performance during training camp caught the attention of the Colts, who were actively seeking reinforcements at cornerback.
The decision to sign Garber comes shortly after Xavien Howard’s abrupt retirement. The 32-year-old Howard, a four-time Pro Bowler and former Miami Dolphins standout, had joined the Colts just a few months ago. However, after struggling in the Colts’ Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Howard decided to walk away from football to focus on his family, leaving a hole in the secondary.
The Colts, with a 3-1 record, now look to Garber to provide depth at the cornerback position. The rookie will have an opportunity to learn from the team's established stars, including Johnathan Edwards and Charvarius Ward, as they prepare for their Week 5 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. With a strong work ethic and a drive to prove himself, Garber could emerge as a key contributor down the line for the Colts.
