Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1) of the Cincinnati Bengals warms up prior to the Dallas Cowboys game on Sunday, September 18, 2022, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, during NFL Week 2. Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1) of the Cincinnati Bengals warms up prior to the Dallas Cowboys game on Sunday, September 18, 2022, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, during NFL Week 2. USA TODAY NETWORK/Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer.
CINCINNATI — Zac Taylor talked about Cincinnati’s game plan against New England on Sunday in the event that Ja’Marr Chase is unavailable.
After missing the most of Cincinnati’s on-field practice during the previous month, save for two sessions, the star wide receiver has been unwavering in his demand for a new contract and has given no clues as to whether he will play or sit out on Sunday.
Tuesday is off for Cincinnati before their regular practice on Wednesday. “We’ll just take it day by day,” Taylor stated in reference to Chase’s Sunday game, adding that he thinks Chase is physically healthy enough to play despite having just had a few practices thus far.
If it comes down to it, the Bengals will need to win on Sunday even if Chase is a vital component of every game plan. He is the only prominent wide receiver in the NFL who is still unsigned and available for a new contract.
Taylor responded, “Yeah, we’re always ready,” when asked about the strategy for Sunday’s absence of Chase. “There’s always injuries and things you got to deal with so we’re adept to that.”
Week 1 practices begin with more Bengals turmoil.
Ja’Marr Chase is still not practicing as the 2024 NFL season gets underway. Although the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals do not play until Week 7 of the 2024 NFL season, the AFC North is a tough division, so anything pertaining to the AFC North is significant this year. This offseason, the Bengals have experienced their fair share of controversy.
While WR Ja’Marr Chase has been present but has not participated, WR Tee Higgins and DE Trey Hendrickson have both requested trades and been turned down. They have since reported to camp. Chase did not practice last week despite head coach Zak Taylor’s insistence that he would.
Owner Mike Brown of Cincinnati appears intent on keeping Chase’s request for a contract extension until the next summer. Chase is still not practicing on Monday, even though the Bengals will take on the New England Patriots at 1 PM on Sunday:
Although Chase’s rookie contract only has two years left on it, players in his position have received enormous salary increases this summer. Jeremy Fowler speculates that Cincinnati’s ownership may have changed their mind about having Chase wait:
It is reasonable to wonder when Chase would need to practice in order to participate in Week 1 after missing the all of training camp. Soft tissue injuries are a serious problem for skilled position players who are not in peak playing condition. The Bengals’ first five-week schedule has two marquee games:
they travel to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2 and play at home against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5. Cincinnati’s chances of winning those two fights may depend on how well Chase prepares.
