Ja’Marr Chase was back at Cincinnati Bengals practice for a crucial workout on Wednesday ahead of Sunday’s season opener against the New England Patriots.
His presence at practice raised hopes in Cincinnati that he could play Sunday, but he was not a full participant.
Chase has been on a hold-in during the preseason due to a contract dispute. He has appeared at team facilities and preseason games, but has largely refused to participate in team practices and activities.
Wednesday practices for Sunday games are typically when the NFL draws up game plans. An absence would have seriously jeopardized Chase’s status for Sunday. Head coach Zac Taylor was unclear before the practice whether Chase would participate or not.
“We’ll see,” Taylor told reporters.
Chase then showed up at the training facilities in full gear.
He was seen running routes and catching passes during team drills.
This marks the first time Ja’Marr Chase has been back on the field at practice for the Bengals since a quiet few days of mini-camp.
There are still a lot of uncertainties going into Sunday, but it’s certainly a sign the Bengals were hoping for it. photo.twitter.com/qKBVTK7mXu
—Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) September 4, 2024
Is Chase playing on Sunday?
Chase declined to speak to the media after practice, while promising to do so later in the week. Meanwhile, the Bengals listed Chase as limited in practice, further clouding his status for Sunday’s season opener.
Chase previously participated in a full Bengals workout on Aug. 25 for the first time since the Bengals’ training camp began on July 24. He had reportedly only participated in incidental drills previously. His presence at the facility allowed him to avoid a fine for exerting leverage in his contract dispute.
What Chase Wants
Chase is seeking an extension to his rookie contract amid a changing contract landscape for NFL wide receivers. The market has shifted this offseason, with many of the league’s top receivers signing lucrative deals.
Justin Jefferson and the Minnesota Vikings reset the market with a four-year, $140 million contract that includes $110 million in guarantees. The deal is the richest for a non-quarterback in NFL history. Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions) and AJ Brown (Philadelphia Eagles) each signed contracts worth more than $30 million per year.
Those deals led in part to disputes with other top receivers, including CeeDee Lamb and Brandon Aiyuk, who sat out training camp in search of new contracts. Both have since signed new deals. Lamb agreed to a four-year, $136 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 26, and Aiyuk agreed to a four-year, $120 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers last week — both in time to prepare and acclimate to the regular season.
Meanwhile, Chase’s contract situation has remained in limbo as the regular season approaches. Chase is entering the fourth season of his four-year, $30.8 million rookie contract. He will be paid $21.8 million in 2025, per a fifth-year option exercised by the Bengals. He has not spoken publicly about his contractual demands, but is presumably seeking a deal that rivals Jefferson’s $35 million annual value.
Chase has been one of the league’s top receivers since he first stepped onto the field as a rookie in 2021. He was named All-Pro and Rookie of the Year in his first season and was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his three NFL seasons.
Chase played a key role in Cincinnati’s run to the title, catching passes from his college teammate Joe Burrow. The Bengals reached the Super Bowl in his rookie season and the AFC championship a year later.
