Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase skips practice again amid a contract standoff, leaving his Week 1 status uncertain. This offseason has been marked by significant contract negotiations and holdouts among elite NFL wide receivers, and Chase’s situation adds to this ongoing narrative.
The Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver arrived late to practice on Wednesday, dressed in street clothes and opting not to join his teammates on the field. As the fifth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, he is seeking a new contract. This decision followed Bengals head coach Zac Taylor’s statement on Tuesday, where he expressed confidence that Chase would participate fully in the next day’s practice.
“I think I probably put my foot in my mouth speaking too quickly,” Taylor acknowledged to reporters on Wednesday. “This is a day-to-day situation. We’ll just keep seeing it as that.”
When pressed about Chase’s availability for the Bengals’ season opener against the New England Patriots on September 8, Taylor refrained from making any predictions.
“This is all part of that plan that we’ve talked about,” he noted. “So this is just the later stages of that plan, but I think it’s wise for me just to say we’re going to take it day-to-day and see what tomorrow brings.”
Chase is aiming for a contract that mirrors the lucrative deal his former LSU teammate, Justin Jefferson, secured with the Minnesota Vikings earlier this summer. Jefferson’s four-year contract, valued at up to $140 million, makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. The Dallas Cowboys nearly matched this by signing CeeDee Lamb to a four-year extension worth up to $136 million.
Throughout training camp, Chase has participated intermittently in what is termed a “hold-in,” remaining present with the team but not consistently taking part in practices. Ongoing discussions with the Bengals indicate that Chase is seeking to match or even surpass Jefferson’s contract.
“We’ll keep working through it,” Taylor said. “Ja’Marr is a great dude that means a lot to this team. We look forward to getting him back, hopefully at some point soon.”
At just 24 years old, Chase has already achieved remarkable milestones, including over 1,000 receiving yards and a Pro Bowl selection in each of his first three NFL seasons. His breakout performance as a rookie played a pivotal role in the Bengals’ unexpected journey to the Super Bowl, earning him the Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. To date, Chase has amassed 3,717 receiving yards and 29 touchdown receptions in his career.
