The Cincinnati Bengals are not shying away from expectations in 2026.
After a free agency spending spree that saw them sign Boye Mafe, Jonathan Allen and Bryan Cook to contracts that could be worth up to $120 million combined, the team did not stop there. The Bengals also pulled off a blockbuster trade as they exchanged their first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft for New York Giants Pro Bowl defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence.
Pairing those players with the superstar trio of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins on offense has the team with their sights set on the Super Bowl in 2026. Now, the team matched up against another team with championship aspirations, as they faced off against the Chicago Bears in a joint practice prior to their preseason matchup.
And while there were plenty of positive takeaways from the joint practice, it also led to Ja’Marr Chase being called a “loser.”
Cincinnati Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase Called Out After Practice
Bengals Wire’s Chris Roling named winners and losers after the Bengals’ joint practice with the Chicago Bears. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase was the lone “loser” after the team’s joint practice, as Roling wrote: “Best in the world? Probably. Drops a problem? For now. Ja’Marr Chase was publicly irritated coming out of practice for his lack of involvement in the offense’s explosives on the day. But considering he had a drop or two, it’s hard to put the blame anywhere else for now. “
Drops were an issue for Chase prior to his rookie season, as he struggled during the preseason. Fortunately, they have not affected his superstar career in any way, shape or form. It does not sound like anything to be discouraged by prior to the season.
Additionally, it appears that practice as a whole was a success for Cincinnati, as Roling added: “The Cincinnati Bengals emerged the “winners” of the joint practice with the Chicago Bears.
Keep in mind that the practice featured starters for the Bengals, while the actual preseason game over the weekend most likely won’t, so, getting a win was a big deal for the Bengals. They’re annually slow starters on offense and the defense, especially, needs to show some signs of life.”
While the joint practice did feature some intensity as there was a scuffle, Ja’Marr Chase had one simple comment after practice: “I don’t care what we do, we just better f—ing protect Joe.”
Ja’Marr Chase’s Expectations
This offseason, Chase did not shy away from speaking his mind regarding what he felt the Bengals could use in 2026. Prior to free agency, Chase said, “Yeah. I mean, everybody pretty much knows what we need. I’ve said it out in the media. All I gotta do is sit back and watch.”
After Cincinnati’s moves, Chase addressed the team’s high expectations prior to training camp, saying, “At the end of the day, we got to the Super Bowl in ’21 and never went back. So, expectations have always been high since 2021. But now that we have improved our defense a little more, the expectations have gone up for the defense to show us what they could do.”
Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase Called ‘Loser’ After Bears Joint Practice