close
close

first Drop

Com TW NOw News 2024

    • Will Bengals WR play in Week 1?
    news

    Will Bengals WR play in Week 1?

    Vaseline Posted on

    play

    Ja’Marr Chase continues his showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals to the end.

    The three-time Pro Bowl receiver’s status for Sunday’s season opener against the New England Patriots is uncertain due to his still-unresolved bid for a contract extension. Further complicating matters is the news that Chase was added to the injury report on Saturday due to an illness, officially listing him as questionable for the game. If Chase doesn’t play, quarterback Joe Burrow will likely be without his top two targets, as Tee Higgins is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury.

    Here’s what you need to know about Chase and his status heading into Sunday:

    Ja’Marr Chase news: Latest on contract talks and outlook for week 1

    Chase is officially active for Sunday’s game, although there was still no official word an hour and a half before kickoff whether or not he would play.

    Chase’s playing status for Sunday had not been determined as of Saturday night, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported. A contract extension was not expected ahead of the game, Schefter added, despite Chase saying Friday that he believed the two sides were “pretty close” on terms.

    However, on Saturday, the Bengals expected Chase to play, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported.

    Chase, as usual, was doing his individual training for the match, which involved catching tennis balls at close range.

    Speaking to reporters on Friday, Chase said it would be his decision whether he would play Sunday. The receiver was a hold-out throughout training camp but took the field for practice Wednesday through Friday amid what he called recent progress in talks.

    Chase, who has two years left on his rookie contract, is looking for a payout after an offseason in which the wide receiver market reset, with six pass catchers signing deals averaging at least $30 million per season. Leading the way for the new top earners are Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings (four years, $140 million) and CeeDee Lamb of the Dallas Cowboys (four years, $136 million).

    Chase pushed back against a report that he wanted to earn one cent more than Jefferson, his former teammate at LSU.

    “If I want to beat Justin, I’m gonna beat the (expletive) out of Justin,” Chase said. “Not a dime, bro.”

    If Chase does play, he acknowledges he will likely be limited in his options.

    Burrow, however, had no concerns about his top target’s ability to contribute despite his minimal practice. “I know he’s doing what he needs to do to stay ready when he needs to be ready,” Burrow said Wednesday. “I’m confident that when he steps on the field on Sunday, he’ll be the Ja’Marr we all know.”

    Bengals’ wide receiver depth chart behind Chase

    If Chase remains absent, the Bengals’ passing game could look very different than it did at its peak.

    Higgins, who had his own contractual dispute with the Bengals this offseason before signing his franchise offer, appears to have a long way to go. If the team’s top two targets are out, Cincinnati could lean heavily on second-year receivers Andrei Iosivas — the Princeton product and former heptathlete — and Charlie Jones, as well as Trenton Irwin.

    Vaseline
    View all posts

    You Might Also Like