Some Cincinnati Bengals Fans are Turning on WR Ja’Marr Chase Amid Agonizing Contract Dispute

The Cincinnati Bengals and star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase have been unable to agree on contract terms as the 2024 regular season approaches.

Chase has been “holding in,” meaning he has been attending practices in street clothes and not actually participating in said practices.

Ja’Marr Chase participated in Cincinnati Bengals practice Tuesday

In a move that gave Bengals faithful hope, Chase actually suited up and participated in practice on Tuesday. Head coach Zac Taylor had good things to say about the return and the sentiment coming from the team was that Chase would continue to participate in practice as the week continued.

Whether it was something Taylor said or the general sentiment coming from the team, it scared Chase away from continuing to practice as he showed up to Wednesday’s session 13 minutes late and in street clothes.

Ja’Marr Chase just got to practice 13 minutes after it started in street clothes. It appears he isn’t practicing today a day after Zac Taylor said he was going to continue to practice pic.twitter.com/FrVSBL4Wwv

— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) August 28, 2024

In an article from ESPN, Taylor explained that he may have gotten ahead of himself when saying that Chase would continue to practice and likely play in their week one matchup with the New England Patriots.

“I think every day is a new day,” Taylor said Wednesday. “We’ll keep working through it. Not going to make predictions on what tomorrow brings.

“I think I probably put my foot in my mouth speaking too quickly. Again, this is a day-to-day situation. We’ll just keep seeing it as that.

“At the end of the day, Ja’Marr’s a great dude that means a lot to this team, and we’ll just continue to take it day to day.”

Cincinnati Bengals fans are starting to turn on Ja’Marr Chase

Whether it was because they thought Chase was back and had the rug pulled out from under them or because the season is inching closer, there is a small contingency of Bengals fans who are becoming unhappy with the Chase situation.

Some fans are upset with the organization for not paying Chase, who has proven himself to be a franchise cornerstone-level player.

Other fans think Chase is being too aggressive in his contract negotiations. The fact that Chase has two years left on his contract, yet he is still holding out does not sit right with fans who are unfamiliar with any similar instances of this in the past.

Chase is looking more like Stefon Diggs with each passing day.

— Fantasy Football Trends (@FFTopTrends) August 28, 2024

I’m not sure but how often or when was the last time a player got a huge extension with 2 years still left on contract??? Would he be the first?

— Edward Heim (@bogeygolfer9) August 28, 2024

Imagine not paying your star WR lol

— Red Raider Man🌵 (@redraiderman1) August 28, 2024

Most confusing hold out of all time. Why practice randomly some days then not others

— 🆅🅸🅹🅰🆈🔥🧊 (@Itz_me_vjj) August 28, 2024

Bengals fans right now 😵‍💫 pic.twitter.com/DUiaXvcFEA

— FanDuel (@FanDuel) August 28, 2024

My thoughts on todays Ja’Marr Chase situation as he was 13 min late to practice in street clothes NOT PRACTICING a day after coach Taylor told the media he would be 🤔 #Bengals #NFL

Hear me out!! pic.twitter.com/d879bSWlcE

— KD (@CincyKD513) August 28, 2024

One growing concern for the Bengals could be tied to another slow start to the regular season should Chase continue to “hold in.” The Bengals have started four of the last five seasons at 0-2 and it has come back to bite them in the postseason. If Chase, who has been getting work in on the side according to Paul Denher Jr. of The Athletic, isn’t fully in tune with his teammates it could result in another slow start.

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