Kristian Fulton is back in the Chargers lineup and ready for Chase against Bengals

They call him the best receiver in the NFL. They say it’s always open. Whatever praise has been heaped on Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase, Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton has already heard – and seen it – firsthand.

The childhood friends, high school teammates and Louisiana state national champions will square off against each other Sunday at SoFi Stadium as the Chargers host the Cincinnati Bengals in a pivotal primetime matchup.

Fulton plans to play after a hamstring injury kept him out for two games. The return comes just in time the chargers (6-3) will test their top-ranked defense in a five-game stretch against explosive offenses.

The next five games will either confirm or expose the Chargers’ defense, which is allowing a league-best 13.1 points per game but has yet to face a team ranked in the top 10 in points scored in Week 11.

With Chase and quarterback Joe Burrow, the Bengals (4-6) rank fourth in the NFL with 245.8 yards passing per game and sixth in scoring with 27 points per game.

Chase lit up the Baltimore Ravens for 264 yards and three touchdowns on 11 catches last week and leads the NFL in the three major receiving categories: 981 yards receiving, 66 catches and 10 touchdowns.

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“They’re on fire right now, in that regard, and we know they’re going to throw the ball,” Fulton said, “and that’s what you live for as a defensive back.”

Fulton, who said he feels 100% after his injury, won a national championship with Burrow and Chase at Louisiana State, where he was named second-team All-SEC as a senior in 2019.

He credits the dynamic attacking duo for his success, just as he knows his former teammates credit him for their success. He and Chase “go way back” and competed as children before both attending Archbishop Rummel High School in Metairie, La. where Fulton was a star junior cornerback when Chase arrived as a dynamic freshman.

Despite their history, Fulton keeps it strictly business during the season. Chatter is kept to a minimum.

“We’ve been locked down during the season,” Fulton said, “and he knows it’s going to be a battle when we see each other.”

Fulton’s return could boost a patchwork secondary that is starting to get healthier after missing its top four cornerbacks at one point. Defensive back Deane Leonard (hamstring) participated in practice Wednesday and began his 21-day return from injured reserve.

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh is mum on the status of No. 1 cover corner Asante Samuel Jr., who is on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.

The Chargers need all the help they can get to deal with not only Chase, but the potential return of wide receiver Tee Higgins. The 25-year-old took part in training for the first time on Wednesday after missing the last three games with a quadriceps injury. And these aren’t the only targets the Chargers need to cover.

“Obviously you have to respect Ja’Marr and focus your attention on him because wherever he is on the field he can make a play and change the game, but we are in the NFL and anyone can change the game and make a play ”, Chargers cornerback Cam Hart said. “So for me it’s respect for everyone. I’m going to guard everyone with the utmost respect. I’m not going to sleep with anyone.”

The rookie out of Notre Dame faces the toughest games of his NFL career since injuries pushed him into the starting lineup. It’s exciting to test himself against a receiver of Chase’s caliber, Hart said. After all, he has never been one to shy away from a challenge.

After switching from receiver to cornerback at Notre Dame, Hart always lobbied to cover the other team’s best receiving threat.

Chargers defensive line coach Mike Elston and safeties coach Chris O’Leary, both of whom coached at Notre Dame during Hart’s career, knew the 6-foot-4, 207-pound prospect brought unique and necessary strength to the position and lobbied for him in the scouting process before the Chargers drafted him in the fifth round. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said the “sky is the limit” for Hart.

The Baltimore native could join the recent trend of bigger, athletic cornerbacks making their mark in the league, Fulton said. The 2020 second round drafted New York Jets’ Sauce Gardner (6-3, 190 pounds) and Denver’s Pat Surtain II (6-2, 202).

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Hart has drawn inspiration from fellow fifth-round pick and converted wide receiver Richard Sherman, a standout with the Seattle Seahawks.

“Because it’s a big angle, you have to press, set edges, get off blocks, tackle,” Hart said. “But I also want to be known as a guy who can be 6-3 and 200 pounds, and guard the short, shifty receiver in the slot. I want to be an all-round corner.”

With the pieces shuffling in the secondary, the Chargers have placed an emphasis on communication to keep their defense intact. The Chargers are only the fourth team in the past four decades to hold each of their first nine opponents to 20 or fewer points, but the secondary still struggles at times.

The Chargers allowed 107 yards to Saints receiver Chris Olave, who played last week with rookie quarterbacks Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener, and two touchdowns to Tennessee’s Calvin Ridley.

Facing a much more dangerous offense this week, good communication will be a top priority as Chase can stress the defense by lining up all over the field, Fulton said. The New Orleans native knows all too well what his old friend can do.

“We have to make sure they earn everything,” Fulton said. “That’s our mentality. We’re going to challenge them, we’re going to be tough on them and make sure they deserve it.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.