T.J. Houshmandzadeh appeared on the Nightcap with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson this week ready to defend his guy as the top Bengals wide receiver in franchise history.
Houshmandzadeh thinks Johnson is still at the top of the list in front of A.J. Green, Isaac Curtis, and Ja'Marr Chase, who is coming off of the first triple-crown receiving season in Bengals history.
"I'm serious about this because I tell you this all the time. Chad is the greatest receiver in Bengals history," Houshmandzadeh said to Johnson on the show. "Now, Ja'Marr Chase is on his way to trying to equal or pass Chad. But where we sit right now, man, Chad is here (motions to a higher level with his hands). It's Chad, it's A.J. Green, it's Isaac Curtis, that's what it is to me. Now, Ja'Marr Chase is on his way to getting there, but come on, Chad."
Chase became the fifth player since the AFL-NFL merger to win the Triple Crown last season. He led the league in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708), and receiving touchdowns (17).
The Bengals' top current wide receiver still has a long way to go to eclipse Johnson's all-time Bengals receiving mark of 10,783 yards (currently at 5,425). Still, he could hit that mark on this next contract timeline and will almost assuredly top Johnson's team-leading 66 touchdowns.
Chase is already at 46 scores through four NFL seasons. A justified defense by Houshmandzadeh, but one that likely won't be true much longer.
