While the Illinois football team has started the 2024 campaign on the right foot, there are many former players who are littered throughout the professional ranks.
In the NFL alone, former Illini make their mark each weekend in different positions. If you watch random games each week, you will see an Illinois player pop up on what seems like every team.
Watching the Washington Commanders alone, you will find not one, not two, but three former Illinois football players. The Cincinnati Bengals are close to that mark as well.
Ted Karras has suited up for the Bengals for multiple years now. He is a longtime NFL veteran. Alongside Karras on the team is former Illinois running back, Chase Brown.
With the Bengals starting the 2024 season off in a rough way, they needed some type of spark. 0-3 going into Carolina to take on the Panthers, Cincinnati needed to find a way to win the game.
Joe Burrow had a solid game of 232 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, but the Bengals had to have more juice than that to fend off the Panthers. Someone else needed to step up.
In steps Brown.
Brown had the best game of his career. He had 15 carries for 80 yards and two touchdowns, both of which were career highs. He also had two receptions for 12 yards. When called upon, much like at Illinois, Brown put the team on his back.
"I'm just doing my job. I'm a running back, I want the ball. Hand it off to me, throw it to me, I'm confident in my ability."
— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) September 29, 2024
A locker room minute with Chase Brown after his first career two touchdown game. pic.twitter.com/WFW7SGtajF
Chase Brown is finally getting some much-earned shine with the Cincinnati Bengals
Honestly, I have been waiting for Brown to break out for the Bengals. He was way too good of a running back at Illinois to not have a good NFL career.
I was disappointed by the lack of action Brown got as a rookie. He played in 12 games and only had 44 carries for 179 yards and failed to get in the end zone.
With Joe Mixon out of the picture, it gives Brown the chance to step up. He has only played four games in 2024 and already has 184 yards and two touchdowns, which is more than his entire rookie season.
Let’s also not skim past the fact Brown has a 6.3 yards per carry average. That number is insane, and if he can keep it anywhere near 5.0 yards per carry this season, then he will be one of the best running backs in the NFL.
Cincinnati ended up winning this week, 34-24. Brown was a huge reason they came away with the victory. Look for Brown to continue getting a bigger carry share as the weeks go on.