Cincinnati Bengals HC Zac Taylor Gives Update on Bizarre Ja’Marr Chase Situation

The Cincinnati Bengals and star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase have been embroiled in a contract-talk stalemate leading up to the 2024 season.

Despite having two years left on his contract, Chase has been “holding in” during training camp in an effort to push the front office for a new contract.

Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase practiced Tuesday

For the first time in the 2024 offseason, Chase suited up and practiced with his teammates Tuesday. Chase has been attending practice the entire offseason, but he has been attending in street clothes.

On Tuesday, Chase decided to suit up and practice with his teammates. This prompted head coach Zac Taylor to provide an optimistic outlook on Chase’s situation as the regular season inches closer. Taylor explained what it was like to have Chase back with the team in an article from Yahoo Sports.

“I think it gives you the visual of what it’s going to look and feel like for us,” Taylor said. “It’s been good to get him back in the mix the last couple of days.”

On top of Taylor’s praise, the team said that they expected Chase to be a full go at practice for the entirety of the week.

Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase went back to wearing street clothes

After giving Bengals fans, players and coaches hope Tuesday, Chase arrived to practice 13 minutes late and in street clothes Wednesday.

While Chase was present, he didn’t do anything with the team or address the media when practice concluded.

Taylor explained in an article from ESPN that he and the team may have jumped the gun and spoken too soon about the Chase situation. Chase seemed to be a shoo-in on the field for the week one matchup with the New England Patriots on Tuesday, but uncertainty has once again crept into the Bengals’ locker room.

“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.”

The Bengals picked up Chase’s fifth-year option which is why he has two years left on his contract despite being drafted in 2021.

While contract negotiations two years out are a rarity, it would likely behoove the Bengals to pay him earlier rather than later. History has shown contracts only get more expensive with time and locking in a Chase contract early could save the Bengals millions of dollars.

For example, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes signed a $450 million contract in 2020, which was far and away the most lucrative contract in the league at the time. Now, several quarterbacks who have not accomplished nearly as much as Mahomes are making $10 million more per year.

Chase and the Bengals have both expressed interest in sticking together for the entirety of Chase’s career, but the pathway for that remains unclear.

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