CINCINNATI – The most significant information from Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor’s news conference this afternoon had nothing to do with the roster cuts to get to the 53-man limit.
It was Taylor’s assertion that wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is expected to play Week 1 against the New England Patriots.
‘This Isn’t Complicated’ – Bengals Coach Says Ja’Marr Chase is Playing
With Chase sitting out of all the practices during training camp and skipping one altogether, there was some speculation that his frustration with the lack of a contract extension would lead him to sit out regular-season games.
That never felt like a realistic option, despite assertions from national media.
And Taylor put the issue to bed for good in his post-cuts news conference by offering a definitive “yes” when asked if he’s confident Chase will play Week 1.
Asked for clarification on his timeline, Taylor said, “This isn’t complicated.”
Chase returned to practice Sunday in a light session that wasn’t open to the media. Bengals social media accounts posted a photo of him participating.
One rep at a time.
📸: https://t.co/jsfUsfbUzf pic.twitter.com/GH2esOwei0
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals)
Monday’s practice was similar — light and closed — and Chase did everything the other receivers did once again.
“He’s looked great,” Taylor said. “The same Ja’Marr I’m used to, and the plan will be to continue to practice.”
“It’s been good just to have our full complement of weapons out there,” he added. “It gives you the visual of what it’s going to look and feel like for us. It’s been good to get him back in the mix the last couple days.”
Chase still has two years remaining on his contract, which puts him in an entirely different category from the San Francisco 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk and the Dallas Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb, the latter of whom ended his holdout yesterday after agreeing to a four-year, $136 million contract extension.
There is still time for the Bengals and Chase to come to an agreement, but urgency doesn’t seem to be the methodology for the Cincinnati front office.
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The Bengals own all the leverage. The only leverage Chase had was to sit out games.
Now that the issue has been put to rest, everyone can concentrate on football, and Chase and his agent can start plotting their approach for next spring, which is when the contract negotiations are expected to begin in earnest.
