Ja'Marr Chase doubts Joe Burrow plays vs. Rams, wants him to sit until he's 100%

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase said Friday he doesn’t want quarterback Joe Burrow to play until he’s fully recovered from his calf injury.

Chase added he doesn’t believe Burrow was 100% in Weeks 1 or 2, and if he had to guess, won’t suit up in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Rams Monday night, per Jay Morrison of Pro Football Network.

Ja’Marr’s not breaking any news, but he doesn’t think Burrow is playing, nor does he think Burrow’s cart ride with Mike Brown was a good sign. pic.twitter.com/dO2n7Tab2l

— Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) September 22, 2023

Burrow, who suffered a calf strain during training camp, said he “tweaked” something in the 27-24 Week 2 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens. He completed 27-of-41 passes for 222 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in Sunday’s loss. Cincinnati also suffered a 24-3 defeat to the Cleveland Browns in Week 1.

“I’m not sure how it’s going to feel the next couple days,” Burrow said of his calf after the game. “It’s pretty sore right now. No telling how it’s going to feel. So, I think we’re going to take it day by day.”

The 26-year-old didn’t practice Thursday, with head coach Zac Taylor calling him “day-to-day.” He did, however, practice in limited fashion Friday.

“It’s been an encouraging early part of the week,” Taylor said earlier this week. “I’ve learned enough in my five years here to not assume anything. We’ll just take it day to day with him. He’s been a little sore early in the week, but we’ll see how it goes. Fortunately we get an extra day here.”

Bengals have plan in place if Joe Burrow can’t play Monday

Should Burrow be unfit to play Monday, fifth-year quarterback Jake Browning would get the first start of his NFL career. Browning, the former Washington standout, has attempted just one pass in the NFL — an incompletion in Week 1 against Cleveland.

With Burrow sidelined for the majority of training camp with the calf injury, Browning had the opportunity to establish a rapport with Cincinnati’s first-team offense. Receiver Tee Higgins went as far to call Browning a “baller.”

“He made good reads. He’s a baller,” Higgins said earlier this week, via the team’s website. “A guy that goes out there and does his job well. He’s got way more confidence with the offense and he was being a vocal leader as he should be. He’s definitely built some confidence [with the receivers].

“I see the balls he’s throwing for the scout team. He’s just putting it in there in perfect spots. When Joe was hurt during the preseason he was putting it in perfect spots. I’ve got a lot of confidence in him to be able to run the offense.”