Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase: Six catches in season-opening loss
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Chase secured all six targets for 62 yards in the Bengals' 16-10 loss to the Patriots on Sunday.
The standout receiver couldn't parlay what was once an unlikely Week 1 appearance into a truly fruitful fantasy day, but Chase did set the pace for the Bengals in receptions and receiving yards while also tying for the team lead in targets. His outlook heading into the contest was decidedly murky, considering he'd been dealing with an illness, had practiced only a handful of times since the start of training camp and was still without the contract extension that had caused his summer-long hold-in. Nevertheless, Chase did help pick up some of the slack for the absent Tee Higgins (hamstring), but he was capped by the play of a relatively ineffective Joe Burrow. The entire Bengals offense will have to fix whatever ailed it Sunday in a hurry, as an exceedingly tough Week 2 road matchup against the Chiefs awaits.
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Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase: Listed as active Sunday
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Chase (illness) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Patriots.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Chase is not expected to reach agreement with the Bengals on a contract extension prior to Sunday's season opener, but that didn't deter Cincinnati from making the wideout active for Week 1. After being listed as a limited participant Wednesday and Thursday for non-injury related/rest reasons, Chase practiced fully Friday and labeled himself as a "game-time decision" for Sunday. The wideout was subsequently listed with an illness on Saturday's updated injury report, but with his active status for Sunday's contest ultimately confirmed, Chase is evidently feeling well enough to be in a position to contribute. However, Chase's workload could be modified, as the Bengals may be inclined to ease him back into the mix. Meanwhile, fellow receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) is inactive, which creates added opportunities versus New England for some combination of Andrei Iosivas, Trenton Irwin, Charlie Jones and Jermaine Burton.
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Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase: Dealing with illness
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Chase (rest), who remains questionable for Sunday's game against the Patriots, had an illness added to his injury status Saturday, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
Chase has deployed a "hold-in" strategy off and on throughout training camp and the preseason due to a contract dispute with the Bengals and suggested Friday that he will decide whether he can play Sunday. The fact that Chase is now dealing with an illness is another complicating factor, though the severity of the ailment isn't known. Tee Higgins (hamstring) is listed as doubtful for Week 1, so if Chase is unable to play, the Bengals will likely turn to Andrei Iosivas, Trent Irwin and Jermaine Burton to serve as their starting receivers. Official word on the statuses of Chase and Higgins should arrive with the release of the Bengals' inactive list 90 minutes before Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase: Could be game-time call
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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.
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."
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Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase: Another limited practice
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Chase (not injury-related/rest) was listed as limited at practice Thursday, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.
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.
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Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase: Not practicing Monday
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Chase did not participate in Monday's practice, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
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.
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Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase: Uncertain for Week 1
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Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said Wednesday that he probably "spoke too quickly" a day earlier when he mentioned that he expected Chase (contract dispute) to play Week 1 against New England, Charlie Clifford of WLWT 5 Cincinnati reports.
Chase practiced Sunday for the first time this summer, but he's now back to observational mode in street clothes as of Wednesday. 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.
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Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase: Not practicing Wednesday
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Chase (contract dispute) isn't practicing Wednesday, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
Chase practiced Sunday for the first time this summer, with head coach Zac Taylor then noting 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.
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Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase: Expected to suit up Week 1
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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.
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.
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Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase: Logs first practice Sunday
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Chase (contract dispute) practiced Sunday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
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.
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Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase: Returns to camp Monday
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Chase (contract dispute) was present for the Bengals' practice session Monday, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
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.
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Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase: Still not practicing
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Chase (contract) isn't practicing Monday and isn't likely to practice Tuesday, James Rapien of SI.com reports.
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.
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Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase: Present but not practicing
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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.
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.
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Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase: Absent from OTAs
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Chase and teammate Tee Higgins are not present for voluntary OTAs on Tuesday as they continue to negotiate potential contract extensions, Ben Baby of ESPN reports.
Chase hasn't yet participated in voluntary workouts for Cincinnati this offseason, and he's now eligible for a contract extension. The Bengals picked up his fifth-year option. Higgins, meanwhile, has yet to sign his franchise tender after Cincinnati placed the one-year tag on him back in February. Coach Zac Taylor stated that he's not worried about the absence of either wideout, saying "they'll be ready and focused when it's time to come back." For now, though, Joe Burrow (wrist) will be taking reps without either of his top receivers present.
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Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase: Fifth-year option picked up
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The Bengals exercised Chase's $21.82 million team option for 2025 on Wednesday.
Cincinnati's decision to exercise the fifth-year option on Chase's rookie contract comes as little surprise with the 24-year-old having emerged as one of the NFL's top receivers since getting drafted with the No. 5 overall pick in 2021. During this past season, Chase recorded a career-high 100 catches (on 145 targets) for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns over 16 games.
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Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase: Practices fully Thursday
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Chase (shoulder) was a full practice participant Thursday.
Earlier Thursday, Chase told Jay Morrison of ProFootballNetwork.com that he feels good physically and will play Sunday against the Browns, despite the fact that the Bengals have been eliminated from playoff contention. The receiver's ability to take every rep during Thursday's practice supports his assertion about his health, though it's conceivable that Chase could still have his snap count managed to some degree with little more than pride at stake in Week 18. Chase will have some motivation to end the season on a high note after he posted a meager 10-134-0 receiving line on 15 targets over Cincinnati's last four contests while missing one of those games (a Week 16 loss to Pittsburgh) due to a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder.
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Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase: Back in action Sunday
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Chase (shoulder) is listed as active Sunday in Kansas City.
After Chase sustained what was eventually confirmed to be an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder back in Week 15 against the Vikings, coach Zac Taylor called the wide receiver day-to-day. The forecast dimmed within days, though, and Taylor ruled Chase out ahead of a Week 16 matchup with the Steelers. Chase finally returned to practice Thursday as a limited participant, maintaining that activity level one day later before the Bengals deemed him questionable for Week 17 action. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported early Sunday morning that Chase was in line to suit up Sunday, and now that's been confirmed. In four career appearances (including playoffs) versus the Chiefs, Chase has compiled a 30-492-4 line on 37 targets.
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Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase: Appears likely to play Sunday
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Chase (shoulder) remains listed as questionable but looks likely to play in Sunday's game against the Chiefs, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Adam Schefter of ESPN supports the notion that Chase is on track to make his return from a one-game absence due to a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder, though the wideout is expected to see how he feels during a pregame workout before the Bengals verify that he'll play. After sitting out last week's loss to Pittsburgh, Chase remained a spectator for practice Wednesday before returning to the field for limited sessions Thursday and Friday while also taking part in Saturday's walkthrough. While speaking to the media this week, Chase's comments also seemed to point toward him playing Sunday, so his managers can have some degree of confidence in including him in lineups. Chase's status will be officially confirmed one way or the other when Cincinnati announces its list of inactives 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase: Status in question for Week 17
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Chase (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Kansas City, Jay Morrison of ProFootballNetwork.com reports.
Chase got back on the practice field Thursday as a limited participant and maintained that activity level one day later as he seeks to put an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder in the rearview mirror. When asked about Chase's prospects for Week 17, coach Zac Taylor told Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site, "We'll see in the next 48 hours." Chase thus may be subject to a pregame workout to get a sense of where he stands before the team makes a decision on his status about 90 minutes before Sunday's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase: Working with trainers
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Chase (shoulder) isn't practicing Wednesday, but he was spotted working out on the rehab field with the Bengals' training staff, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Chase sat out Saturday's loss to the Steelers and is in danger of missing this Sunday's game at Kansas City, though head coach Zac Taylor said Wednesday that the wideout is making progress in his recovery from a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder, per Ben Baby of ESPN.com. Rookie Andrei Iosivas took on most of the snaps alongside Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd in Week 16, with veteran Trenton Irwin operating as the No. 4 receiver.
