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.
Ja'Marr Chase WR CIN (10) Tue 8/20/24 9:54 AM
Ja'Marr Chase
WR CIN (10)
Chase (contract dispute) was present for the Bengals' practice session Monday, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
The extent of Chase's participation in Monday's session isn't known, and afterward head coach Zac Taylor declined to reveal whether the wideout's absence from the team last week was excused or unexcused, per Baby. Before he left camp last Tuesday, Chase had been "holding in" at Bengals practices, as he had been in attendance but not taking part in team drills as he awaits a contract extension. Though the Bengals rewarded kicker Evan McPherson with a three-year extension over the weekend, it's unclear if Chase will be able to come to terms on a new deal before Week 1, as team president Mike Brown previously said in July that any extension for the star receiver was unlikely to be completed until next offseason, according to Baby. Chase's desire for a new contract could result in him missing Thursday's preseason finale versus the Colts, but at this point, the 24-year-old hasn't definitively said that he won't suit up Week 1 against the Patriots if an extension isn't worked out before then.
Ja'Marr Chase WR CIN (10) Tue 8/13/24 4:01 PM
Ja'Marr Chase
WR CIN (10)
Coach Zac Taylor said Tuesday that Chase (undisclosed), who missed practice for this first time this training camp, is a situation the Bengals will monitor day-to-day, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Chase has yet to actually participate in practice in training camp, but until Tuesday he'd been present every day while in street clothes. It remains to be seen whether Chase's absence is related to an injury sustained during private workouts, a personal matter, or his ongoing contract dispute. In any event, it's a new development as the star wide receiver's 'hold-in' continues. The Bengals should provide further clarity about Chase's status in the near future.
Ja'Marr Chase WR CIN (10) Mon 7/29/24 2:54 PM
Ja'Marr Chase
WR CIN (10)
Chase (contract) isn't practicing Monday and isn't likely to practice Tuesday, James Rapien of SI.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Chase continues to "hold in" due to his desire for a new contract, watching from the sidelines rather than participating. He's coming up on a full week of missed practices, and it's hard to get a good read on the situation given that he's not discussing it with media (or even acknowledging that his absence is contract-related). Bengals owner Mike Brown said last week that it might take a while to finalize an extension, perhaps setting the table for Chase to remain absent from practice into August. The Bengals typically have avoided extensions with players that have multiple years remaining on rookie contracts, but Chase would be a sensible exception in light of three straight 1,000-yard seasons to open his career. He's currently under contract through 2025 via the fifth-year option on his rookie deal.
Ja'Marr Chase WR CIN (10) Thu 7/25/24 2:24 PM
Ja'Marr Chase
WR CIN (10)
Chase (contract) is present on the sideline but not practicing for the second straight day at Bengals camp Thursday, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
EDGE Analysis
One of the many star wideouts across the league looking for a new contract, Chase is following Brandon Aiyuk's lead and "holding in" at Bengals camp. He's observed workouts from the side each of the first two days of training camp. In addition to Aiyuk and Chase, CeeDee Lamb is another receiver looking for a big extension, except Lamb is away from the team completely and is holding out. Bengals owner Mike Brown recently said Chase's extension could take a while.
Ja'Marr Chase WR CIN (10) Wed 6/12/24 12:14 PM
Ja'Marr Chase
WR CIN (10)
Chase has been a limited participant in minicamp, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
EDGE Analysis
It sounds like he's opted for a "hold-in" rather than a holdout, showing up for mandatory minicamp but only participating in walkthroughs and meetings. Chase doesn't want to risk an injury while his agent is negotiating a contract extension, so it'll be interesting to see what approach he takes if nothing is signed before the start of training camp in late July. Tee Higgins, meanwhile, is missing minicamp without accruing fines, as he still hasn't signed his franchise tag and technically isn't under contract.