Chase (rest/illness) remains questionable for Sunday's game against the Patriots, but he showed improvement late Saturday and could be available for the Bengals' season opener, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Though Chase is still seeking a long-term contract extension with the Bengals, he ended his "hold-in" at practice and took part in workouts as a limited participant Wednesday and Thursday before upgrading to full activity Friday. He termed himself as a game-time decision following Friday's practice before he woke up ill Saturday, adding another potential complication to his availability leading into the season opener. However, with Chase's condition taking a turn for the better later Saturday, the wideout may be trending toward playing Sunday. Fowler notes that the Bengals have included Chase in their game plan this week, though the team could make some adjustments in the event he sits out. Further clarity on Chase's status won't arrive until Cincinnati releases its inactive list 90 minutes prior to the 1 p.m. ET kickoff, and even if he suits up, he could be subject to a more limited snap count than he typically handles after he missed all of training camp and the preseason.

Chase, who still remains questionable for Sunday's game against the Patriots, had an illness added to his injury status Saturday, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Chase has deployed a "hold-in" strategy off an on throughout training camp due to a contract dispute with the Bengals and suggested in comments Friday he would "decide" whether he can play Sunday. In the same press scrum, Chase also opined there was a remote possibility the two sides could come to an agreement on a massive extension Friday, but with the self-imposed deadline passing without any resolution, it's unclear if the latest injury update is related to the uneasy contract situation or something merely coincidental. Tee Higgins (hamstring) is listed as doubtful for Week 1, so if Chase is unable to play, the unheralded duo of Andrei Iosivas and Jermaine Burton will be tasked with a significant workload.

Chase (non-injury related/rest) practiced fully Friday but remains listed as questionable for Sunday's contest versus the Patriots, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

The ongoing situation between Chase and the Bengals could be closing in on a resolution, as he told Ben Baby of ESPN.com on Friday that there's "a small chance" the two sides may agree to a contract extension, "but who knows what'll happen then, these next couple hours?" Chase also called himself a "game-time decision" for Sunday's season opener and that "it's my decision" whether or not he'll be available. The Bengals are listing fellow wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) as doubtful to play this weekend, so if both players are inactive, WRs Andrei Iosivas and Jermaine Burton, RBs Zack Moss and Chase Brown and TEs Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample and Tanner Hudson will be the top skill-position talent available to QB Joe Burrow.

Chase (non-injury related/rest) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Patriots.

EDGE Analysis

Chase missed a good portion of training camp and the entire preseason while in the midst of a contract hold-in, and his on-field work was limited Wednesday and Thursday as he awaits a resolution. He intimated Friday that he and the Bengals may be close to a new deal, but he also called himself a "game-time decision" for Sunday's contest, per Kevin Patra of NFL.com. Fellow wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) is doubtful to suit up this weekend, so Cincinnati may be without its top two options at the position, which would make Andrei Iosivas, rookie Jermaine Burton and others prominent targets for QB Joe Burrow.

Chase indicated Friday that a contract resolution may be in reach, while suggesting that he's a "game-time decision" for Sunday's season opener against the Patriots, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Look for added context to arrive as the day progresses, but Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer relays that Chase acknowledged that he'd probably be limited if he does play Sunday. For his part, when asked about the Week 1 status of both Chase and Tee Higgins (hamstring), coach Zac Taylor told Hobson, "We'll see."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.