There was an unfortunately all too familiar site at Bengals camp Wednesday as Cincinnati’s star receiver Ja’Marr Chase once again did not practice — despite coach Zac Taylor saying Tuesday that Chase would work out.
“I think I probably put my foot in my mouth and this is a day-to-day situation,” Taylor told reporters after Wednesday’s practice.
Ja’Marr Chase has arrived … but he’s back in street clothes again.
Zac Taylor stated yesterday plan was for him to practice today and tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/g7I5DVyLMz
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) August 28, 2024
Taylor said Chase is fully healthy and didn’t express concern about his conditioning.
Chase had been holding in while he negotiated a contract extension with the team and has watched every practice — except for one session that he missed entirely — from the sideline.
On Sunday, the team’s first practice following the conclusion of the preseason, he rejoined his teammates on the field. However, he was once again not participating on Wednesday.
“Every day is a new day,” Taylor said. “We are working through it. I am not going to make any predictions to what tomorrow brings. At the end of the day, Ja’Marr is a great dude that means a lot to this team. We are going to continue to take it day to day.”
Chase has two years remaining on his rookie contract. The club exercised his fifth-year option for the 2025 season.
Bengals president Mike Brown stated before training camp that the team would “bend over backward” to sign Chase, but this might not be the best time to negotiate. Outside of Joe Burrow last year, whose contract broke every Bengals’ precedent, Cincinnati has never signed a first-round pick to an extension before their fourth season.
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(Photo: Dylan Buell / Getty Images)
