New Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco has managed to extend his career into his 40s, but Ja’Marr Chase has no plans of following in his footsteps.
The star wide receiver swiftly shut down the idea of playing when he’s 40.
“No. No. Of course not,” Chase told reporters. “Them kids going to be killing me when I’m 40.”
There are only a handful of players who are in their 40s this year, and none of them are wide receivers. The oldest wide receiver in the NFL this year is Adam Thielen, who is just 35.
Those who play quarterback, kicker and other less physically taxing positions can play past 40, but it’s mostly unrealistic for a wide receiver to do so. In fact, only one wide receiver in NFL history has reached that mark, as Jerry Rice played until he was 42. Even though Rice extended his career the way no other receiver has, he wasn’t exactly a star in his final years.
For now, the 25-year-old Chase can focus on making the most of the season at hand.
Things have gotten off to a bit of a rocky start for Chase and the Bengals, with quarterback Joe Burrow currently sidelined with turf toe. Cincinnati has gone 2-3 to begin the year, and Chase has 374 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Things could start to improve soon, however, since the Bengals traded for the veteran Flacco, who was previously with the Browns. While Flacco isn’t the MVP candidate Burrow is, he’s still more than capable of finding receivers, and he’ll have one of the best in the NFL to throw to with Chase.
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