Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins status in question for Bengals opener vs. Patriots

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor addressed the media Friday and said “we’ll see” when asked about the availability of receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins for Sunday’s Week 1 home tilt against the New England Patriots, per Ben Baby of ESPN.

Chase, seeking a lucrative long-term contract extension, staged a hold-in during training camp and just returned to practice Thursday. He was listed as a limited participant. Higgins, meanwhile, tweaked his hamstring during Thursday’s practice and was not on the field in the portion of the walk-through open to media Friday.

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Chase, who has recorded three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and Pro Bowl appearances since entering the NFL in 2021, said Friday he will likely be limited if he plays Sunday and called himself a “game-time decision.” He added he believes Friday is the deadline to get a deal done before the season and thinks the two sides are within reach of getting it done. Chase, 24, said he is willing to play this season without a new deal. He has two years left on his rookie contract.

Ja’Marr Chase refutes reports he wants contract one penny higher than Justin Jefferson

Chase refuted the report from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network that he wants to get paid one penny higher than what the Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson got earlier this offseason. Jefferson signed a four-year, $140 million extension worth $110 million guaranteed in July.

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Ja'Marr Chase on reports he wants his new contract to be one penny more than Justin Jefferson's 👀

"If I want to beat Justin, I'm going to beat the shit out of Justin. Not by a penny, brother." https://t.co/COvcauG2EHpic.twitter.com/IIkC7SPVPe

— 5 GOATs (@5GOATs_) September 6, 2024

“If I want to beat Justin, I’m going to beat the shit out of Justin. Not by a penny,” Chase told Marshall Kramsky of WCPO 9 in Cincinnati.

Chase wants more than his former LSU teammate, but not “a lot higher.”

“I’m not really looking to go a lot higher,” Chase said. “That’s not really me trying to beat him out, me trying to go crazy. It’s just what’s right.”

Like Chase, Higgins was seeking a long-term contract extension earlier this offseason. Higgins, entering his fifth season, signed a one-year tender for the 2024 season in June. Higgins, 25, hauled in 42 receptions for 656 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games last season. He compiled north of 1,000 receiving yards in each of the two seasons prior.