Week 3 of the NFL season is here, and former LSU Tigers continue to do big things at the highest level. Tiger fans are in for a treat on Sunday afternoon as the Cincinnati Bengals visit the Minnesota Vikings.
The matchup will put Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson on the same NFL field for just the third time in their respective careers. Both receivers should be involved early and often, which could make for an entertaining afternoon of NFL viewing for LSU fans.
Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson go head-to-head in NFL Week 3
It's the third time that Jefferson and Chase will be on the same field in an NFL game, and the first meeting to take place in Minnesota. The Bengals hosted the Vikings in Week 1 of the 2021 season in what was Chase's first regular season NFL game. He made an immediate impact, hauling in five catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. Jefferson totaled five receptions for 71 yards. The Bengals prevailed in overtime by a score of 27-24.
The pair met again in Cincinnati in Week 15 of the 2023 season, which interestingly enough also ended in a 27-24 overtime victory for the Bengals. Chase and Jefferson once again put forth great efforts. Chase collected four catches for 64 yards, while Jefferson hauled in seven passes for 84 yards.
Chase is now catching passes from Cincinnati backup QB Jake Browning, as Joe Burrow is set to miss at least three months with a turf toe injury. Cincinnati's lack of offensive line support continues to put a damper on Burrow's NFL career, but Chase has still been effective with Browning at the helm. Last season, Chase became the sixth receiver in NFL history to complete the receiving Triple Crown by leading the NFL in receiving yards (1,708), receptions (127) and touchdowns (17). He entered the 2025 season ranked No. 4 on the NFL Top 100 Players list, earning the top spot among wide receivers.
Jefferson is also working with a backup QB in this matchup. After starting the first two games of the season, JJ McCarthy won't be able to play against the Bengals because of an ankle injury. Instead, Carson Wentz is slated to make his first start for the Vikings. It's another QB change for Jefferson, who has dealt with a revolving door of quarterbacks in his NFL career. Since entering the NFL in 2020, the former LSU National Champion has caught passes from Kirk Cousins, Sean Mannion, Nick Mullens, Joshua Dobbs, Sam Darnold, JJ McCarthy, and now, Carson Wentz. Despite the constant quarterback turnover in Minnesota, Jefferson continues to produce at an elite level and remains one of the league's premier wide receivers.
Jefferson entered the 2025 season ranked No. 9 on the NFL Top 100 Players list. But he has yet to score a touchdown when going up against Chase's Bengals. Tiger fans would love to see both LSU legends find the end zone today. Kick-off between the Bengals and Vikings is set for 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS.