CINCINNATI — Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase said he will hold off on deciding Sunday’s season opener against the New England Patriots at the last minute because of what he called an “aggravating” contract dispute.

Chase broke his silence on Friday, saying he would be willing to play this season even if the two sides can’t agree on an extension. But whether he steps onto the new turf at Paycor Stadium on Sunday is up to him.

“It’s my decision,” said Chase, who the Bengals considered questionable to draft.

Chase isn’t the only Bengals wide receiver who won’t be able to play Sunday. Tee Higgins is listed as questionable after suffering a hamstring injury on Thursday.

Chase was cleared to practice Friday, marking the third day in a row he participated in after not practicing during training camp and skipping Monday’s practice before the official game week began on Tuesday.

He indicated that the two sides are close to a deal and have made progress recently. Chase said he had a deadline of Friday to reach an agreement.

“The chances are slim, but who knows what will happen in the next few hours?” Chase said.

Other wide receivers have received significant contract extensions this offseason, including those in his 2021 draft class and the Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson, Chase’s former LSU teammate and close friend. Asked about a report that Chase wanted to top Jefferson’s $140 million deal by a penny, he bristled at that sentiment.

“If I’m going to beat Justin, I’m going to destroy Justin,” Chase said. “Not a dime, bro.”

Chase said he did not ask for a new deal and that the Bengals told him before the midseason that they planned to extend his contract. However, he added that even if the team had not made that suggestion, he still would have asked for an extension on a rookie deal that runs through the end of 2025.

What Chase wants in a deal hasn’t changed his position, he said.

“I mean, nothing really changed,” Chase told ESPN. “Justin and CeeDee (Lamb) set the market. The market is set. It’s written for me, not me writing it.”

Chase said some aspects of the guaranteed money and average annual value were still a priority for him. But as in his last public comments, in January, he wouldn’t give too much away.

“I’m not going to tell you literally, but I’m going to tell you some of it,” Chase said.