Ja’Marr Chase is back … or is he?
The status of the star Cincinnati Bengals receiver is still unclear, even though he did return to practice last Sunday.
However, he did not practice with the team Wednesday.
Chase has been holding in while seeking a contract extension when many high-profile receivers are searching for big paydays, and the practicing/non-practicing swap creates a confusing situation.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor expressed confidence that Chase would be good to go for the regular season just two days ago, but he didn’t have a definitive answer on Chase’s playing status Wednesday.
His uncertainty prompted longtime NFL host and reporter Trey Wingo to note a source he trusts, who told him “the vibe isn’t good” in Cincinnati this summer.
Taylor officially offered that Chase is to be considered “day-to-day,” and acknowledged that he may have spoken too quickly when indicating that the LSU alum should be ready for Week 1.
It may conclude that way, but the situation appears cloudy for now.
“The smartest thing for us to do is just keep working through it, keep taking it day to day,” Taylor said. “He’s a huge member of our team, we appreciate him and we’re hoping to get him back at some point soon.”
Chase, while extension-eligible, is under contract with the Bengals through the 2025 season.
He’s currently on the Bengals’ books for a cap hit of $9.8 million this season, elevated to $21.8 million next year in his fifth-year team option.
Chase is coming off a career-high 100 catches last season for 1,216 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
For his career, the former No. 5 overall draft pick has recorded 268 receptions, 3,717 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns.
The Bengals, who missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2020, begin their 2024 campaign hosting the New England Patriots on Sept. 8.