Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) stretches during training, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, at the Kettering Health Practice Fields outside of Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.

Despite contract impasse, Ja’Marr Chase active for Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, locked in a protracted contract dispute with the team, will play in Sunday’s opener against the visiting New England Patriots.

He had been listed on the team’s injury report as questionable due to illness.

Chase had said he would be the one to decide whether he would suit up against the Patriots, and he decided to, even though ESPN reported Sunday morning that the Bengals and Chase were unable to come to a contract agreement before game day.

The contract stalemate kept Chase on the sidelines for training camp and the preseason, and he just returned to practice on Wednesday. His usage against the Patriots likely will be low and limited to key plays, such as third down or in the red zone, since he did not have the opportunity to work himself into top game shape.

Chase is seeking a contract extension along the lines of his former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings. Jefferson reset the market with a four-year, $140 million contract ($35 million per season) that eclipsed the $32 million per year Philadelphia Eagles wideout A.J. Brown receives.

Amon-Ra St. Brown signed a four-year deal worth $30.002 million per year with the Detroit Lions, and the Dallas Cowboys finally paid CeeDee Lamb’s asking price — four years, $136 million with $100 million guaranteed — last month to bring his offseason holdout to a close.

Chase caught 100 passes for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He’s scheduled to play on the final year of his four-year rookie contract — at a base salary of $1.055 million — and has a fifth-year team option worth $21.8 million for 2025.

The No. 5 pick in the 2021 draft, Chase has 268 catches for 3,717 yards and 29 touchdowns in 45 games with Cincinnati.

While Chase is available to play, the Bengals listed the following players as inactive: wide receivers Tee Higgins and Kendric Pryor, defensive end Cedric Johnson, offensive tackle Amarius Mims, tight end Tanner McLachlan and defensive tackle Kris Jenkins Jr.

As for the Patriots, they listed wide receiver Javon Baker, quarterback Joe Milton III, linebacker Curtis Jacobs, guard Sidy Sow, defensive tackle Eric Johnson and tackles Zachary Thomas and Demontrey Jacobs as inactive.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) catches a pass in the fourth quarter during a Week 17 NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The Kansas City Chiefs won, 25-17.

Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase returns to practice field

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase returned to the practice field on Wednesday.

Observers posted videos online of Chase dressed for practice and holding his helmet, walking with fellow wideout Tee Higgins.

Earlier Wednesday, head coach Zac Taylor was asked if Chase would participate.

“We’ll see,” Taylor said.

There was no confirmation as to whether Chase actually took part.

Chase, 24, was listed as day-to-day earlier this week as the Bengals prepared to host the New England Patriots in Sunday’s season opener.

There was no indication of any resolution to Chase’s contract stalemate, which has kept him on the sidelines for training camp and the preseason.

ESPN reported that Chase also attended a team meeting and that contract talks are ongoing.

Chase is seeking a contract extension along the lines of his former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson, who reset the market with a four-year, $140 million contract ($35 million per season) that eclipsed the $32 million per year Eagles wideout A.J. Brown receives.

Amon-Ra St. Brown signed a four-year deal worth $30.002 million per year with the Lions, and the Cowboys finally paid CeeDee Lamb’s asking price — four years, $136 million with $100 million guaranteed — last month to bring his offseason holdout to a close.

Chase caught 100 passes for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He’s scheduled to play on the final year of his four-year rookie contract — at a base salary of $1.055 million — and has a fifth-year team option worth $21.8 million for 2025.

The No. 5 pick in the 2021 draft, Chase has 268 catches for 3,717 yards and 29 touchdowns in 45 games with Cincinnati.

–Field Level Media

Aug 22, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) stands on the field during warmups before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase day-to-day after not practicing

With the Bengals’ season opener looming Sunday, star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase didn’t practice Monday and is listed as day-to-day, according to Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor.

During the portion of practice open to the media, Chase was seen shagging balls during a drill with assistant coaches while also standing with his fellow receivers while they stretched.

“There are always injuries and things you have to deal with, so we’ll adapt to him,” Taylor said.

Taylor wouldn’t say how much the three-time Pro Bowl selection could play Sunday against the visiting New England Patriots.

“It’s impossible for me to say with 100 percent conviction, but I feel good about the shape that he’s in,” the sixth-year coach said.

Chase, 24, is seeking a contract extension along the lines of his former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson, who reset the market with a four-year, $140 million contract ($35 million per season) that eclipsed the $32 million per year Eagles wideout A.J. Brown receives.

Amon-Ra St. Brown signed a four-year deal worth $30.002 million per year with the Lions, and the Cowboys finally paid CeeDee Lamb’s asking price — four years, $136 million with $100 million guaranteed — last week to bring his offseason holdout to a close.

Chase caught 100 passes for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He’s scheduled to play on the final year of his four-year rookie contract — at a base salary of $1.055 million — and has a fifth-year team option worth $21.8 million for 2025.

Teammate Tee Higgins is playing out the franchise tender on his deal after the Bengals allowed his contract to expire, then tagged him in March.

The No. 5 pick in the 2021 draft, Chase has 268 catches for 3,717 yards and 29 touchdowns in 45 games with Cincinnati.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) talks with head coach Zac Taylor on the sideline during a preseason training camp practice at the Paycor Stadium practice field in downtown Cincinnati on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024.

Warning sign: WR Ja’Marr Chase resumes hold-in at Bengals practice

Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase arrived nearly 15 minutes late for practice on Wednesday wearing street clothes and stirring doubt over his willingness to play in the Week 1 opener in 10 days.

Chase observed practice one day after head coach Zac Taylor provided a confident “yes” to a question about whether Chase would suit up when Cincinnati welcomes the New England Patriots to begin the regular season on Sept. 8.

“It’s been good just to have our full complement of weapons out there,” Taylor said on Tuesday’s Zoom call with media. “I think it gives you the visual of what it’s going to look and feel like for us. It’s been good to get him back in the mix the last couple of days. He’s looked great. Same Ja’Marr I’m used to. The plan will be to continue to practice with him.”

But Chase apparently shifted gears overnight, a potential signal of challenges in contract talks with the team. Owner Mike Brown said in training camp that signing Chase would be a priority, but he remained committed at that time to a franchise-held position not to negotiate during the season. Unless Brown and the Bengals — or Chase — are ready to budge, the clock is ticking.

“I think everyday is a new day,” Taylor said Wednesday. “We’ll keep working through it. I’m not going to make predictions on what tomorrow brings. At the end of the day, Ja’Marr is a great leader that means a lot to this team.”

Taylor said the situation is not a distraction, but a “one-off situation.”

“I think I probably put my foot in my mouth speaking too quickly. Again, this is a day-to-day situation,” Taylor said.

Taylor didn’t want to comment on whether the Bengals were concerned about Chase playing in the regular-season opener.

He said Chase would still be able to play even if he doesn’t practice the rest of this week.

“We’ve got really good players. What’s good about us is we have really good depth at the skill-position spot on offense,” Taylor said. “A lot of guys working in practice to get those reps. Of course we’d love for him to be practicing and getting those reps. But you’ve got to find the positives in the situation.”

Chase, 24, caught 100 passes for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns last season and enters his fourth season with 268 receptions and 29 touchdowns. He’s scheduled to play on the fifth-year option on his contract with teammate Tee Higgins playing out the franchise tender on his deal after the Bengals allowed his contract to expire, then tagged him in March.

Waiting might come at a steep cost for Cincinnati. The price of business with wide receivers skyrocketed in the offseason.

His former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson reset the market with a four-year, $140 million contract ($35 million per season) that eclipsed the $32 million per year Eagles wideout A.J. Brown receives. Amon-Ra St. Brown signed a four-year deal worth $30.002 million per year with the Lions, and the Cowboys finally paid CeeDee Lamb’s asking price — four years, $136 million with $100 million guaranteed — this week to bring his offseason holdout to a close.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) walks the field during warmups before the NFL Preseason Week 2 game between the Chicago Bears and the Cincinnati Bengals at Soldier Field in downtown Chicago on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024.

Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase returns to practice

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase participated in team practice for the first time during training camp on Sunday.

Chase has been the subject of a hold-in as he vies for a new contract. The three-time Pro Bowl selection is entering the fourth season of a four-year, $30.8 million rookie contract.

His former LSU teammate, Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings, reset the market in June with a four-year, $140 million contract ($35 million per season).

Chase, 24, caught 100 passes for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games last season. He enters his fourth season with 268 receptions for 3,717 yards and 29 scores.

The Bengals open their season against the visiting New England Patriots on Sept. 8.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) runs off the field between plays in the second quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024.

Bengals exercise 5th-year option on WR Ja’Marr Chase

The Cincinnati Bengals picked up the fifth-year option on Pro Bowl wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase on Wednesday, keeping him under contract through the 2025 season.

Chase is entering his fourth season and will make a base salary of $1.1 million. His base will balloon to at least $21.8 million in 2025 if a long-term extension hasn’t been reached by then.

Chase, 24, has earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his first three seasons. He was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2021.

Selected No. 5 overall in the 2021 draft, Chase has 268 catches for 3,717 yards and 29 touchdowns in 45 games, all starts. He hauled in a career-high 100 receptions in 2023, tied for the second most in a season in team history.

–Field Level Media

Dec 16, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) runs with the ball against Minnesota Vikings cornerback Akayleb Evans (21) in the first half at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase, Steelers QB Kenny Pickett ruled out

Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett have been ruled out of Saturday’s AFC North clash in Pittsburgh.

Chase separated his shoulder in the fourth quarter of Cincinnati’s 27-24 overtime victory against the Minnesota Vikings last Saturday. NFL Network reported Monday that he could end up missing multiple weeks of action for the Bengals (8-6).

“We ultimately made the decision it wasn’t going to happen,” Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor said Thursday of playing Chase against the Steelers (7-7).

Chase did not participate in practice on Tuesday or Wednesday. Receivers Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd will be expected to step up in his absence.

Pittsburgh’s Mason Rudolph took over for Mitchell Trubisky last week and will make his first start since 2021 on Saturday. Trubisky struggled in place of Pickett, who underwent ankle surgery aiming to expedite his recovery from a high ankle sprain sustained against the Arizona Cardinals on Dec. 3.

“I’ve got a lot of good relationships with the guys in the locker room,” Rudolph said. “I think anytime you’re here as long as I’ve been here, you had better have some or you’re probably not a good dude.

“Guys are excited for me and I’m excited to go out there. As the third-string quarterback, (do) you feel like you are really earning your paycheck week to week? And so, I finally get to earn it this week and put my hand in the pile and go fight for victory together.”

The Bengals are in the thick of the AFC playoff race and are already playing without starting quarterback Joe Burrow, who sustained a season-ending wrist injury in a 34-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 16. Jake Browning has taken over under center.

Chase, 23, leads the team in catches (93), receiving yards (1,156) and touchdowns (seven) in 14 games this season.

A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Chase has 261 receptions for 3,657 yards and 29 touchdowns in 43 career games. He was selected by the Bengals with the fifth overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft out of LSU.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) smiles after completing a deep pass in the first quarter of the NFL Week 15 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Minnesota Vikings at PayCor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023.

Bengals coach on Ja’Marr Chase: ‘We’ll see as the week goes’

Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor isn’t prepared to make any rash decisions on the availability of wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase for Saturday’s game against the host Pittsburgh Steelers.

Taylor told reporters on Tuesday that Chase wouldn’t practice that day. Taylor also said that ‘we’ll see as the week goes’ in regard to determining his star wideout’s status versus the Steelers (7-7).

Chase separated his shoulder in the fourth quarter of Cincinnati’s 27-24 overtime victory against the Minnesota Vikings last Saturday. NFL Network reported Monday that he could end up missing multiple weeks of action.

The Bengals (8-6) are in the thick of the AFC playoff race and are already playing without starting quarterback Joe Burrow, who sustained a season-ending wrist injury in a 34-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 16. Jake Browning has taken over under center.

Chase, 23, leads the team in catches (93), receiving yards (1,156) and touchdowns (seven) in 14 games this season.

A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Chase has 261 receptions for 3,657 yards and 29 touchdowns in 43 career games. He was selected by the Bengals with the fifth overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft out of LSU.

Receivers Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd likely will be expected to step up in Chase’s absence.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) points to the crowd as the Bengals face the Minnesota Vikings at Paycor Stadium Saturday, December 16, 2023.

Report: Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase (shoulder) likely to miss game

Cincinnati wideout Ja’Marr Chase likely will miss the Bengals’ Saturday meeting with the host Pittsburgh Steelers due to a shoulder injury, NFL Network reported Monday night.

Chase separated his shoulder in the fourth quarter of Cincinnati’s 27-24 overtime victory against the Minnesota Vikings last Saturday. He could end up missing multiple weeks, per the report.

The Bengals (8-6) are in the thick of the AFC playoff race and are already playing without starting quarterback Joe Burrow, who sustained a season-ending wrist injury in a 34-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 16. Jake Browning has taken over under center.

In 14 games this season, Chase, 23, has 93 receptions for 1,156 yards and seven touchdowns. He is in his third season with Cincinnati after the Bengals selected him with the fifth overall pick of the 2021 draft out of LSU.

Receivers Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd likely will be expected to step up in Chase’s absence.

Pittsburgh (7-7) earned a 16-10 win at Cincinnati on Nov. 26.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) makes a leaping catch in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 15 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Minnesota Vikings at PayCor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. The Bengals won on an overtime field goal.

Report: Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase has separated shoulder

Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase sustained a separated right shoulder during his team’s game against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday, NFL Network reported.

Chase, who is set to undergo further testing on Sunday, was injured as he reeled in a 24-yard reception early in the fourth quarter of the Bengals’ 27-24 overtime win. He came to the sideline briefly before returning to the contest, however he exited with three minutes left in regulation and was ruled out in overtime. Chase returned to the sideline in street clothes wearing a sling.

NFL Network reported that while it’s unclear of the severity of the injury, it is possible that Chase could be available for Cincinnati (8-6) in its road game against the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7) on Saturday.

Chase, 23, leads the team in catches (93), receiving yards (1,156) and touchdowns (seven) in 14 games this season.

A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Chase has 261 receptions for 3,657 yards and 29 touchdowns in 43 career games. He was selected by the Bengals with the fifth overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft out of LSU.

–Field Level Media