What Changed in the Bengals, Ja’Marr Chase Saga From Monday to Today?

CINCINNATI – The Ja’Marr Chase saga has been a consistently vague wink and nod toward what is really happening without saying what is really happening.

Chase has not been happy about the lack of progress in negotiating an extension, but he hasn’t wanted to voice it, nor has he been willing to let his frustration with the front office filter into his interactions with his Cincinnati Bengals teammates.

But the song and dance changed today.

After 13 consecutive practices where he was not just present but invested in everything that was going on, Chase was a no-show today for the final workout before the team makes the short flight to Chicago on Wednesday for a joint practice with the Bears on Thursday and a preseason game Saturday.

What’s Next for Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase In Contract Hold-In

Will Chase travel with the team?

Will he be at the next scheduled practice in Cincinnati on Monday?

Will he be anywhere around the building at all before signing an extension?

No one knows. Chase isn’t talking, and head coach Zac Taylor is left with no other option than to label Chase’s mere presence a day-to-day situation.

Taylor made a brief statement after today’s practice to address Chase’s absence, along with that of defensive tackle B.J. Hill the last two days and backup quarterback Jake Browning watching in street clothes.

“Quick update. Ja’Marr, day to day. We’ll take it one day at a time. I won’t have any comment beyond that.

“B.J. Hill had a baby. He’ll be back tonight. And Jake Browning has a rib issue, and he’ll miss some time with that. Troy Walters caught punts. We don’t have meetings tonight.”

The last part was Taylor’s way of adding some levity to the situation. He told the team he’d cancel the evening meetings if Walters caught two of three punts. He caught the first two.

Whether the mood will remain as light after the team returns to Chicago remains to be seen.

There were meetings Monday night, but Chase was seen leaving the stadium well before his teammates and coaches had made their way in from the practice field.

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He’s under contract for 2024 and 2025 after the Bengals exercised the fifth-year option that guarantees his $21.8 million in 2025.

At the pre-camp luncheon three weeks ago, Bengals president and owner Mike Brown said he would “bend over backward” to get Chase’s extension done.

But Brown didn’t say when those calisthenics would begin.

The Bengals have a long history of not making moves until they have to — or at least want to — and an even longer history of winning these types of stare-downs.

It’s unclear if something prompted Chase’s escalation to his hold-in, but if it was a routine absence, à la Hill’s, it would have made sense for Taylor to mention that during his brief post-practice statement.

And if it is Chase trying to make his own statement, he no doubt caught his teammates by surprise by not showing up.

The Bengals’ social media team posted a video earlier in the day of Taylor joking with Chase — “We created a monster, didn’t we?” — after rookie Jermaine Burton’s touchdown catch Saturday night.

“We created a monster, didn’t we?” – Zac on @NASAMAINE3 👽 pic.twitter.com/qFURUBjCaS

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 13, 2024

And just one day prior, this is what Tee Higgins had to say about Chase being the only player in the league involved in a contract dispute who is around the team and staying involved:

“It’s a brotherhood here. He has love for the game. He can’t stay away from it. He wants to participate any way he can.”

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Higgins also said the receivers plan to have a group dinner in Chicago during their three-night stay.

It remains to be seen whether Chase will be a part of the reservation.