Ja'Marr Chase Thought Joe Burrow's Viral Comments Were 'AI,' Shuts Down Bengals Rumors

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase didn't believe at first that Joe Burrow had really told reporters Wednesday he wasn't having as much "fun" playing football this season.

"I thought this was an AI— did this really happen, though? Is that real?" Chase said when asked Thurssday about Burrow's comments.

When asked for his perspective on Burrow's attitude, Chase told reporters he felt the quarterback "loves football."

"From what I see, I see the same person every day," Chase said. "He comes to work. He loves work. You know what I'm saying? He doesn't look like he's bummed to be here. He looks the same every day."

Chase continued: "Nothing's wrong with a little emotion at the end of the day, especially coming back from an injury. The man loves the game. I think he loves the game, from what I've learned from him... I can't really say what he feels, at the end of the day.

"But from what I see, he seems the same every day. Comes to work, ready to play. Comes to practice, the same guy. He helps me every day. It's no negativity in the building from him."

Chase's comments came after Burrow told reporters Wednesday: "If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it. I've been through a lot, and if it's not fun, then what am I doing it for?"

Burrow, who missed nine games earlier this season with a toe injury that required surgery, was then asked what he felt like the "changing point" was for him in how he felt about the game.

"I'm not sure," Burrow answered. "I'm not sure there was a singular moment or time. It's just a reflection on a lot of things that I've done and been through in my career. I think I've been through more than most, and it's certainly not easy on the brain or the body. So, just trying to have fun doing it again."

Burrow had appeared in just two games before suffering his turf toe injury in Week 2.

By the time Burrow returned the Bengals were already all but out of the postseason hunt following a 3-8 start to the season.

Burrow led the Bengals to a win over the Baltimore Ravens in his return on Nov. 27, raising hopes Cincinnati could win out and beat the struggling Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers to the top of the AFC North.

Those hopes slimmed, however, with a Week 14 loss to the Buffalo Bills last Sunday that dropped the Bengals to three games behind the Steelers with four games remaining in the season.

Burrow has suffered multiple severe injuries throughout his career prior to his toe injury. Those included knee and wrist injuries that cut short his 2020 and 2023 seasons, respectively.

Chase pushed Thursday against what he described as the "narrative" that Burrow's mood has changed amid his return from his latest health issue.

"The narrative that y'all's trying to paint on him right here, I don't see it," Chase said. "He's the same person every day. He comes to work. He loves work. He loves the guys in the locker room. So, he's pretty positive to me."

The Bengals aren't technically eliminated from playoff contention, although the path to a Wild Card spot is steep. Burrow will need to find a way to win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in order to keep his team in the hunt.