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Ja’Marr Chase is looking to get paid by the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason. The superstar pass catcher is in the midst of a contract negotiation with Bengals brass with hopes that discussions will come to a close before Week 1.
Until then, Chase’s participation with the team will be a topic of conversation. Head coach Zac Taylor eased concerns on Tuesday regarding the wide receiver’s status, or so it seemed.
“He and I always have conversations,” he said. “He’s going to practice this week, and we’ll just keep taking it from there.”
He went on to add that he sees no scenario in which Chase doesn’t play in the season opener.
Zac Taylor on Ja’marr Chase Week 1 pic.twitter.com/1hsJYctew7
— Andy Pursley (@flamcheesy) August 27, 2024
Those words ring hollow less than 24 hours later!
While Ja’Marr Chase did show up to the practice facility on Wednesday as Taylor predicted, the wideout walked in late while donning street clothes.
Far from a full participant.
@espn #Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said Tuesday that #JaMarrChase would be a full participant in practice all week 👀 (via KelseyLConway/X) #NFL #Football #Cincinnati ♬ Stargazing (Slowed + Reverb) – Marcelo De Carvalho
The reason for that late arrival isn’t quite clear given the head coach’s emphatic statement on the situation.
Is Chase upset with contract talks? Is this the start of some sort of holdout?
The former LSU star has sat back and watched while players like Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb landed paydays this summer. He’s up next!
NFL insider Ian Rapoport previously commented on the negotiations, saying he believes “the two sides are still discussing a potential extension,” though he says Chase could be after the league’s highest paid wideout tag.
“If he got [the extension], it would make him either tied for the highest paid receiver with Justin Jefferson or beating Justin Jefferson by one cent, which I believe is, in fact, the goal.”
-Ian Rapoport
It’s been reported that the Saturday before the Bengals‘ first game is the ultimate deadline to get a deal done. If not, fears of the issue trickling into the season grow.