The Cincinnati Bengals may need to make a counterintuitive adjustment with wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase: line him up outside more often. Locked On Bengals host Jake Liscow said the show’s review of recent snaps with quarterback Joe Burrow on the field found lower passing and rushing success rates, along with less efficient EPA results, when Chase worked from the slot.
The case is not that Chase cannot win inside. It is that Cincinnati’s current usage may be turning an elite playmaker into the focal point of predictable, short-area designs. Liscow said defenses have jumped Chase quickly when he motions into the formation, particularly on screens and manufactured touches, while the offense has produced more consistent results when he attacks from the perimeter.
Locked On Bengals co-host Joe Goodberry traced the issue back to the offense’s post-Tyler Boyd evolution. The former Bengals wide receiver handled much of the traditional slot work in 2023, leaving Chase and Tee Higgins outside. Goodberry said Boyd’s absence has made it easier to view Chase as the solution for that role, but the data and film review led the hosts to question whether that alignment has also reduced the unit’s downfield explosiveness.
Liscow said Chase averaged 6.3 yards after the catch per reception both from the slot and overall during his 2024 receiving triple crown season, undercutting the assumption that moving him inside automatically creates more value after the catch. The hosts also cited a major gap in Chase’s targeted-play success rate, saying it rose from 46% in the slot to 58% when he aligned outside.
That puts more weight on the Bengals’ complementary receiving options. Goodberry said wide receiver Andrei Iosivas matters more than he previously believed because a dependable third receiver could allow Chase to return to more outside work without sacrificing the offense’s slot element. The immediate question is whether Cincinnati can create that balance internally or needs to pursue help before the trade deadline.
Bengals News and Notes
– The hosts floated Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor as a high-end trade possibility, but Liscow questioned whether his shotgun production would provide enough of an upgrade over Chase Brown to justify the acquisition cost. Goodberry saw Taylor’s potential value in helping the offense operate under center more often and keeping Burrow out of repeated obvious passing situations.
– Indianapolis wide receiver Josh Downs emerged as the cleaner fit for the Chase discussion. Goodberry said Downs could occupy the slot and take on more of the designed yards-after-catch work, while allowing Chase to spend more snaps outside.
– Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert also drew consideration as a potential offensive addition. The hosts viewed Goedert as a more traditional tight end who could still function as a third receiving option and diversify Cincinnati’s formations.
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