Despite Joe Burrow’s previous comments, Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase insists that his quarterback still loves the game.

While speaking with reporters on Thursday, Chase, 25, disagreed with the notion that Burrow, 29, is not having fun playing football at the moment.

“I see him the same every day. To me, he loves football,” Chase said. “You know what I’m saying? But that’s a him question. I can’t answer that for him. … I see the same person every day. Comes to work. He loves work. You know what I’m saying? He don’t look like he’s bummed to be here.
Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on December 7, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York.

“He smiles every day. The narrative that you all are trying to paint on him right now, I don’t see it. You know what I’m saying? At the end of the day, 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.”

Chase’s comments come just a day after Burrow held a troubling press conference, which caused some to speculate that the 29-year-old is not enjoying his time with the Bengals this season.
“If I want to keep doing this, then what am I trying to do with myself?” Burrow told reporters. “And I have to have fun doing it. You know, if it’s not fun, then what am I doing it for? So, that’s the mindset.”

Burrow has missed a significant portion of Cincinnati’s season after suffering a Grade 3 turf toe injury back in Week 2.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y.

The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback returned ahead of the Bengals’ 32-14 Week 13 win over the Ravens, but lost a tightly contested matchup against the Bills, which has all but ended Cincinnati’s playoff chances.

“Do I have fun playing?” Burrow asked while at the press conference. “I mean, how much? Winning’s always fun, but in general, was it as fun as before? No, I wouldn’t say it was that way.”

Since entering the league in 2020, Burrow has suffered multiple injuries and has won the AP Comeback Player of the Year twice in his six-year NFL career.

When asked if there was a turning point that made him enjoy playing less, Burrow said that he could not point to a specific instance.

“The changing point? I’m not sure there was a singular moment or time,” Burrow said. “Reflection — reflection on a lot of things that I’ve done and been through in my career, I think. And I’ve been through more than most. Certainly not easy on the brain or body, so just trying to have fun doing it again.”

“Ummm, there’s just a lot of things going on right now — football-related, personally, all the above,” he added.