Cincinnati Bengals expect Ja'Marr Chase to play in season opener vs. New England Patriots

As the Cincinnati Bengals and top receiver Ja’Marr Chase work through a potential contract extension, coach Zac Taylor offered an encouraging outlook on the former LSU standout.

He told reporters present he expects Chase to suit up for the season opener against New England, reaffirming that with a definitive “yes,” according to a report from Sports Illustrated.

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Chase returned to practice with the team over the weekend, despite his current hold-in.

“It’s been good just to have our full complement of weapons out there,” Taylor said. “Gives you the visual of what it’s going to look and feel like for us. And so it’s been good to get him back in the mix these last couple of days.”

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Ja’Marr Chase is entering the last year of his rookie contract, and the Bengals already picked up his fifth-year option. His desire for an extension comes as the wide receiver market took multiple turns this offseason with multiple big contracts coming down.

Minnesota Vikings star Justin Jefferson secured a four-year, $140 million deal, while Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown landed a four-year, $120 million agreement. They were both pending free agents after the 2024 season. Another NFC North receiver – D.J. Moore – got a historic extension from the Chicago Bears two years before he was due to hit free agency.

Now, Ja’Marr Chase is searching for long-term security beyond the one-year team option. Bengals owner Mike Brown addressed Chase’s situation last month, saying the franchise will “bend over backwards” to get a deal done.

Last season, Chase had a team-high 1,216 receiving yards on 100 catches with seven touchdowns. Tee Higgins, who played just 12 games, had 656 yards on 42 catches with five touchdowns. It was his first season with fewer than 900 receiving yards after posting two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2021 and 2022.

Ja’Marr Chase was the No. 5 overall draft pick by the Bengals in the 2021 NFL Draft. He earned that designation after a fantastic career at LSU.

In two seasons with the Tigers, Chase logged 107 catches for 2,093 yards and 23 touchdowns. His breakout campaign came in 2019, when LSU won the national title and he went for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns.

On3’s Nick Schultz also contributed to this report.