While Bengals QB Jake Browning Tries to Fill Joe Burrow's Role on the Field, Captains Aim to Bridge Leadership Gap
CINCINNATI – As soon as his teammates voted him a captain for the first time, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase said he knew he was going to need to be more vocal, but he still planned to defer to quarterback Joe Burrow.
When Burrow went down with the turf toe injury six quarters into the season, Chase knew his leadership role would be expanding even more.
Monday night in Denver, it went to the next level when he addressed the team following the 28-3 loss.
“I don’t mind when the players get mad,” Chase said. “I don’t mind that because that means they care. You know what I’m saying? I want guys to play with passion. I want them to play with anger. I told my guys that recently after the game. I just want them to play with a little more fire and anger.”
Center Ted Karras, who is in his fourth season as captain, wasn’t emoting anger Thursday, but he was bringing the fire.
Unlike some players who say they don’t pay attention to the outside noise, Karras made it clear that he hears the team “getting killed” by the media and fans.
And he was animated and direct about his resolve in leading the Bengals out of a funk that has seen them outscored by 63 points, which is tied for the worst two-game differential in team history.
“With stuff like this, you can never break my spirit,” Karras said. “I'm trying to lead this team with energy and spirit. You're not going to break this team's spirit. We're going to come out and be ready for a football game Sunday at 4 p.m.”
It’s one thing to flush a bad loss and dive into a new gameplan for another opponent with determination and effort and belief and all the other things required to prepare for the following Sunday.
But what happens if the Bengals find themselves down two scores in the first half and the offense is unproductive and the defense is leaky?
Does the resolve wane?
Does the will wither?
Does the fight flee?
“We’ve had good practices, but in the moment, we’ve let these games get away from us,” Karras said. “And it's a damn shame, because we're doing some good things. But it's corny to point out the good things when you're really letting games get away from you.”
Orlando Brown Jr. said the key to pulling himself and the team out of the rut is consistency.
He’s not going to be more vocal or step outside of his own personality.
“I'm the same person every single day I come in the building, win, lose or draw,” he said. “No matter what happens, that’s my approach, my mindset. That’s just the way that I take it.
“So as crazy as it sounds, nothing is going to change for me from a character standpoint,” he continued. “It’s not time to hit the panic button.”
The loss of Burrow has had massive ramifications on the field.
And they’re nearly as large in the locker room.
There’s not a leadership void. But not having Burrow around has created a hole, especially when it comes to his style of leading.
While it’s important for the players to look within themselves for answer, some of the leaders need to project outwardly and do more than just lead by example.
It can be as important as the gameplan itself.
One of those leaders, first-year captain Logan Wilson, said the Bengals have a locker room full of players eager to be led.
“We have a really good culture in this locker room, and I know it's not like this elsewhere,” he said. “The guys we have in this locker room are going to go to war regardless of the situation every single week.
“I appreciate being around people like that because I know there's locker rooms where guys will not do that. Guys will just kind of spit the bit and be done, like, 'Oh, it's halftime and we're down by 10. I'm just gonna play very hard anymore,’” Wilson continued. “We don't have guys like that. And that gives you a chance regardless of the situation to try to find a way to win.”
Chiefs Predicted to Add 7,000-Yard RB in ‘No-Brainer’ Move
The Kansas City Chiefs have steadied the ship after an 0-2 start, pulling back to 2-2 and improving on offense with the return of second-year wide receiver Xavier Worthy.
While the Chiefs have more reinforcements on the way for their passing game with the return of Rashee Rice in Week 7, one analyst believes the team could use more help on the ground. The Chiefs have struggled to establish a running game at times, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes serving as the most effective rusher through the first month.
That could change with the addition of a 7,000-yard rusher who could be an affordable buy at the NFL trade deadline.
Chiefs Turn to Pro Bowler for Help
SI.com’s Matt Verderame cooked up potential trades for all 32 NFL teams ahead of the deadline, suggesting the Chiefs could land New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara for a fifth-round pick. Verderame noted that Kansas City’s passing game will likely continue to improve, and Kamara can do the same for the rushing attack.
With Xavier Worthy back and Rashee Rice due back from suspension in Week 7, the Chiefs don’t need receiving help. However, they could use serious help in the run game,” Verderame wrote. Kansas City’s running backs are averaging 3.5 yards per carry, with Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt both slated to become free agents. “
Verderame added that it would be an easy decision if the Chiefs could add the multi-talented Kamara, who has more than 7,000 rushing and 4,800 receiving yards in his career. Though he has seen a dip in production in recent years, Kamara would still be the best tailback in Kansas City’s backfield.
If the Chiefs can acquire Kamara from New Orleans for a late-round pick, it’s a no-brainer,” Verderame wrote. “Kansas City has only $3 million in cap space, but Kamara’s cap hit is a proration of $2.9 million before a nonguaranteed 11.5 million next year. Through four games, Kamara has 256 rushing yards and a touchdown.”
Chiefs Could Find Other Trade-Deadline Targets
If the Chiefs aim to add some rushing help at the upcoming trade deadline, they could have some other targets in mind. ESPN’s Dan Graziano suggested that the Jacksonville Jaguars could look into trading running back Travis Etienne Jr. as part of a months-long shakeup in the backfield that started with the trade of Tank Bigsby.
The Jaguars drafted Bhayshul Tuten in the fourth round of this year’s draft and then took passing-down back LeQuint Allen Jr. in the seventh,” Graziano noted. Those two probably form the future of the team’s backfield; Jacksonville already traded Tank Bigsby to the Eagles. If the Jaguars fall out of contention and want to get a longer look at their rookies, Etienne and his $6.143 million salary would probably be pretty easy to move.
Others have suggested the Chiefs could target Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane, as the Dolphins are expected to move into selling mode. The season-ending injury to wide receiver Tyreek Hill could complicate Miami’s plans, however, as the team is now short of talent on offense and their win over the New York Jets has kept them on the fringes of playoff contention.
