Ja'Marr Chase WR CIN (10) Thu 9/5/24 4:31 PM
Ja'Marr Chase
WR CIN (10)
Chase (not injury-related/rest) was listed as limited at practice Thursday, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
Back-to-back practice appearances, in any capacity, on the part of Chase -- who is seeking a new contract with the Bengals -- are no doubt a positive sign, but according to Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer, at this stage coach Zac Taylor won't confirm whether Chase is expected to play in Sunday's season opener against the Patriots. With that in mind, Conway notes that the Bengals and Chase are taking this "day-to-day" in the hopes of working something out before the end of the week.
Ja'Marr Chase WR CIN (10) Wed 9/4/24 4:31 PM
Ja'Marr Chase
WR CIN (10)
Chase was listed as a limited practice participant Wednesday due to rest, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
The main takeaway is that Chase is healthy and back on the field, after missing nearly all of Cincinnati's practices over the past six weeks while his agent and the team tried to reach terms on a long-term contract. Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said Wednesday that Chase has taken actions to ensure he'll be ready to play even if he hasn't practiced much, with Pitcher even noting that the Bengals are "not concerned" about the wideout being ready when called upon, per Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer. Quarterback Joe Burrow made similar comments Wednesday, but the Bengals decided to limit Chase's practice participation anyway. Conditioning likely won't be a factor in his availability, so the decision on whether to play (or not) now lies in Chase's hands ahead of the season opener against New England this Sunday.
Ja'Marr Chase WR CIN (10) Wed 9/4/24 3:38 PM
Ja'Marr Chase
WR CIN (10)
Chase returned to practice Wednesday amid ongoing contract negotiations, Paul Dehner of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
Chase had resumed practicing with teammates by the end of August before sitting out Cincinnati's most recent three sessions, so his presence Wednesday seems like a step in the right direction. It's unclear whether Chase was limited at practice in any capacity. The Bengals are have two more official practices scheduled prior to Sunday's season opener against the Patriots.
Ja'Marr Chase WR CIN (10) Wed 9/4/24 1:45 PM
Ja'Marr Chase
WR CIN (10)
Chase was spotted in uniform ahead of Wednesday's practice, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
EDGE Analysis
The extent of Chase's participation in practice won't be known until later Wednesday, when the Bengals release their first injury report of 2024. In any case, the wideout's initial presence prior to the session is a positive indicator. Cincinnati has three practices scheduled ahead of Sunday's season opener against the Patriots.
Ja'Marr Chase WR CIN (10) Mon 9/2/24 1:37 PM
Ja'Marr Chase
WR CIN (10)
Chase did not participate in Monday's practice, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Per Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic, Chase was present for the beginning of the session, though not in uniform. The Bengals won't have to release an official practice/injury report before Wednesday, but with the team's season opener quickly approaching, the wideout's status will need to be monitored closely ahead of Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff against the Patriots. For his part, coach Zac Taylor indicated that the team will "just take it day by day" in terms of the star wideout's Week 1 availability, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Ja'Marr Chase WR CIN (10) Thu 8/29/24 1:15 PM 1 Comment
Ja'Marr Chase
WR CIN (10)
Coach Zac Taylor said "we'll see" when asked Thursday about Chase's practice availability, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
EDGE Analysis
Taylor said things will "probably be very similar to yesterday," per Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer, referring to Chase observing Wednesday's practice in street clothes. The head coach also said Wednesday that he "spoke too quickly" when stating that he expected Chase to be available Week 1 versus New England. Counting the fifth-year option for 2025, the 2021 first-round pick has two years remaining on his rookie deal, but the lack of a long-term contract seems to have created a significant rift between Chase and the Bengals. Both sides have roughly a week and a half to mend that gap before taking on the Patriots at home on Sunday, Sept. 8.
Ja'Marr Chase WR CIN (10) Wed 8/28/24 4:45 PM
Ja'Marr Chase
WR CIN (10)
Coach Zac Taylor said Wednesday that he probably "spoke too quickly" a day earlier when he told reporter he expected Chase (contract dispute) to play Week 1 against New England, WLWT's Charlie Clifford reports.
EDGE Analysis
Chase practiced Sunday for the first time this summer, but he's now back to observer status in street clothes as of Wednesday afternoon. Taylor used the term "day-to-day" when reporters asked him about the wideout after Wednesday's practice, noting that he'll "look forward to getting [Chase] back, hopefully at some point soon." Chase has two seasons remaining on his rookie contract, including a fifth-year option for 2025, and presumably expects a new deal that's comparable to the ones signed by Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb in recent months.
Ja'Marr Chase WR CIN (10) Wed 8/28/24 2:29 PM
Ja'Marr Chase
WR CIN (10)
Chase (contract dispute) isn't practicing Wednesday, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Chase practiced Sunday for the first time this summer, with coach Zac Taylor then saying Tuesday that he expects the wide receiver to play Week 1 against New England. Chase is present at Wednesday's practice but only as an observer in street clothes, adding the latest layer of intrigue 12 days before Cincinnati's season opener. Bengals owner Mike Brown said in July that the team would "bend over backwards" to sign Chase to an extension, but Brown also cautioned that it might take some time to work out a deal. The 24-year-old has two seasons remaining on his rookie contract, including a fifth-year option for $21.82 million in 2025.
Ja'Marr Chase WR CIN (10) Tue 8/27/24 6:09 PM
Ja'Marr Chase
WR CIN (10)
Coach Zac Taylor said Tuesday that he expects Chase (contract dispute) to suit up for Cincinnati's regular-season opener against the Patriots on Sunday, Sept. 8, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Chase had previously abstained from practicing at all in training camp amid ongoing contract negotiations with the Bengals, but the star wideout suited up alongside teammates at practice Sunday for the first time. Aside from a week-long absence mid-August, Chase at least had been present at practice on the sidelines, and he now has just under two weeks remaining to ramp up before suiting up against New England in Week 1. It's a relief for fantasy managers that Chase isn't at risk of missing any time, but it remains to be seen whether both sides will ultimately agree on an extension that puts all tensions in the rearview. CeeDee Lamb inked a four-year, $136 million deal with the Cowboys on Monday after holding out of camp, and Chase is doubtless vying for a similar top-of-the-market contract of his own.
Ja'Marr Chase WR CIN (10) Sun 8/25/24 12:54 PM
Ja'Marr Chase
WR CIN (10)
Chase (contract dispute) practiced Sunday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
EDGE Analysis
Aside from some individual work and walkthroughs, Chase hadn't practiced at all during training camp prior to Sunday as he's tried to apply pressure on the organization to work out a contract extension. The star wideout had at least been in attendance during the early part of camp, but he was absent for a week in mid-August before returning (but still not practicing) this past Monday. Chase's return to practice Sunday doesn't necessarily mean that there's been any progress in contract talks, but it does give hope that the 24-year-old intends to suit up for Week 1 of the regular season. The Bengals will begin the campaign at home against the Patriots on Sunday, Sept. 8, giving Chase two weeks to ramp up if he does indeed intend to play.