It looks like Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase isn’t fine with being compared to the Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson ahead of their mega matchup on Sunday. Chase acknowledges Jefferson as the top wide receiver in the league but reserves the first rank for himself.
After the dazzling victory over Indianapolis, Chase ended up with an ankle injury. But that doesn’t stop him from preparing to face off against his rival and former LSU teammate, Jefferson. A comparison was foreseen as the top WRs are scheduled to face each other.
But when a Fox 19 Sports reporter asked the receiver Chase for his opinion of him and Jefferson being the two best in the league,
I feel like I'm the best. I don't feel like we're the two best..I feel like I'm the best. He said
Um..that's for everybody else to debate. to which Chase replied
"I'm the best. I don't feel like we're the two best. I'm the best."
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) December 13, 2023
Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson top two? Ja'Marr would only say he's No. 1.
(Don't @ Tyreek Hill)#Bengals @fox19 pic.twitter.com/RnSXJnxMKb
Chase’s claim about him being the best wide receiver has strong backing from his stats. He has already surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for three consecutive seasons.
In his 42 career games, the wideout has had 257 career catches for 3,593 yards along with 29 touchdowns. Meanwhile, his former LSU teammate, Jefferson, has logged 4,825 yards and 25 touchdowns in his last 50 career games.
When the Bengals’ WR was asked whether or not he told Jefferson that he was better.
Nah, that's pointless. We do this every year with each other. So, it's pointless arguing back and forth. Chase said
When it comes to total receiving yards, Vikings receiver Jefferson leads ahead of the Bengals’ Chase. The latter missed five games last season, among which four were due to sustaining a hip injury and one after the game against the Buffalo Bills got canceled because of the Damar Hamlin emergency, as Chase explained.
However, Jefferson still leads him in yards per game with 96.5, while Chase is ranked fourth with 85.5. After being picked as No. 5 in the 2021 NFL draft, Chase began his NFL career with high expectations, contrary to which Jefferson didn’t get as much attention despite being selected in the first round at No. 22 in the 2020 NFL draft.
Moreover, Chase is eligible to seek a contract extension after this season, but Jefferson didn’t get one last offseason and wouldn’t get one until his fifth year in 2024.
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