Chase confident about avoiding sophomore slump

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase had a rookie season for the ages, and he's intent on making an even bigger splash in Year 2.

"Last year, I was just out there running routes, having fun again," Chase told The Athletic's Jay Morrison on Tuesday. "Now I've got all the small details down, like learning how to set people up before the next route.

"And I feel more comfortable with the offense. Maybe I can move around a little more when we see different things on film. I feel like all of that’s going to make me a lot better this year."

Chase's 1,455 receiving yards topped Justin Jefferson for the most by a first-year player in NFL history. He also set the Bengals' single-game receiving record (266) and single postseason mark (368).

The 22-year-old became the first wideout to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award since Odell Beckham Jr. in 2014, earning 42 of 50 votes.

While receivers have historically often struggled to replicate strong rookie production in their sophomore years, Chase has already set his goals for 2022 - but he's not ready to share them just yet.

"I've got two up there so far," Chase said. "I'm not going to say what they are, but I don't think they're hard. They're a little more than last year, like catches and yards. I've still got to find my touchdown minimum.

"I'll give y'all the list maybe before training camp."