Courtland Sutton reveals fandom for Bengals’ Chase, Higgins

The Denver Broncos are preparing to face two of the best wide receivers in football when they match up with the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday. For longtime Orange and Blue pass catcher Courtland Sutton, it’s a chance to watch two of his favorite players up close.

“I’m an avid football fan in terms of other receivers,” Sutton said. “I love watching film, and I’ll see another team’s receiver run a route and think, ‘Wow, that was a great route.’ Then I’ll go see what that guy has going on, watch a couple of his targets, and see what that person does.”

Sutton singled out Cincinnati stars Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins for their flair and distinct styles.

“I’ve been a fan of Ja’Marr and Tee,” Sutton said. “They play with such a swag and such a style that it’s fun to watch. It’s a very competitive sport, there’s a lot of talent being pumped into the league, and to see these guys come in and have the success they’ve had — they’re both guys that do things differently but very well.”

Chase, explosive off the line and dangerous after the catch, punishes defenses with his suddenness and ability to win from any alignment. Higgins, a long, physical target, thrives on leverage, body control and back-shoulder precision. Together, they force defenses to choose how they want to lose — press and risk getting stacked over the top, or play off and concede timing throws underneath.

For Sutton, that diversity is fuel. He calls himself a “fiend” for film and looks for pieces he can add to his own game — the footwork detail on a release, the pace change at the top of a route, the way a receiver uses his frame to shield a defender.

Still, Sutton’s admiration doubles as homework. The Bronco calls himself a “fiend” for film and looks for pieces he can add to his own game.

“If I see guys do something that works for them, I might say, ‘How can I incorporate that into my game?’” he said. “We might have similar body types. It may be the way they ran a route against a certain scheme. I try to figure out different things so I can maximize the abilities that I have.”

Last year, all of Sutton, Chase and Higgins finished in the top 31 in the NFL in receiving yards and top 13 in touchdowns caught. Sutton is a few years older than the Cincinnati pair, but Chase has had the most prolific career thus far.

On Monday Night Football, the appreciation turns to competition — with Sutton aiming to make his own imprint while the Broncos try to match Cincinnati catch for catch.

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