The Cincinnati Bengals are experiencing a bit of a Super Bowl hangover in 2022. After coming up just short of winning the franchise’s first Lombardi Trophy in February, the Bengals are 2-3 this season, a shell of the team we saw get hot last December and January.
One player who’s gotten off to a slow start is reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Ja’Marr Chase. After torching the league as a rookie with 81 receptions for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns, with an 18 yards-per-catch average, the former LSU Tigers star has tallied 32 grabs for 343 yards and just two touchdowns through the first five weeks of the season. His yards-per-catch average has slipped significantly to just over 10 this season.
Ja’Marr Chase Beat His Pregnant Girlfriend?
The recent news about the drama between Chase and his ex might shed some clarity on his declining performance. Football aside, Chase is also dealing with some damning accusations of abuse and threats from his ex-girlfriend and mother of his child, Ambar Nicole.
She recently took to Instagram to call out the Bengals star for his alleged actions toward her and their child.
“Get this abuser JaMarr out of the league @NFL @Bengals. I’m tired of this abuser and deadbeat abusing and threatening me. Calling your own child a b*tch. And having your mom threatening to come to my house. You cannot call yourself a man. You are in fact a horrible person.”
Nicole made another post saying Chase hit her while pregnant.
“Told myself I wouldn’t put my business on the media anymore but!! … Putting your hands on a pregnant female is lame af @lahjay10_.”
Nicole’s Social Media Posts Are Just Accusations As Of Now
Thus far there’s no evidence to support these damning accusations, and who knows if it will ever become more than just that. Still, no one wants to have those type of accusations hovering over their head. Especially an NFL player in this climate, where the Deshaun Watson case gave everyone an idea of how aggressively the league is going to prosecute any violence or sexual abuse toward women by its players.
Chase hasn’t responded to the accusations. His legal team probably suggested this. Domestic violence situations are often multi-layered and very complex in nature, so commenting before all of the details emerge and before the NFL makes the accusations a priority wouldn’t be wise.
Only time will tell if Nicole continues to release statements or videos about Chase. If she does continue, then you may actually see the league or Bengals begin to investigate the career-threatening allegations.
Bengals Need Chase To Focus On Football
With the Bengals sitting at 2-3 and their team trying to find itself, it’s imperative that Chase, Cincy’s most explosive weapon, is locked in. Head coach Zac Taylor and the Bengals organization has to hope this blows over and isn’t true. He’s desperately searching for ways to help the team rally around one another and turn their 2022 season around.
And the Joe Burrow-to-Chase connection is an integral piece to anything they hope to accomplish in the Queen City.
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