Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has yet to practice in NFL training camp. It has not been known why he is not practicing, but this could be a cause for concern before the start of the 2024 NFL season. Chase is the top receiver on the roster behind Tee Higgins.
After those two players, the Bengals do not have a deep receiving core. They lost Tyler Boyd to the Tennessee Titans in free agency this offseason. Brian Callahan left as the offensive coordinator to be the Tennessee Titans head coach. Dan Pitcher is the new offensive coordinator of the Bengals this season. At some point, Chase and Joe Burrow will need to develop chemistry before the start of the 2024 season.
Last season with the Bengals, Chase caught 100 passes for 1,216 yards receiving and seven touchdowns. He averaged 12.2 yards per catch and was targeted 145 times last season. Ja’Marr Chase was catching passes from both Joe Burrow and Jake Browning last season. Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury last season back in November in a loss against the Baltimore Ravens.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport Provides Update On Contract Talks With Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver Ja’Marr Chase
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was on Inside Training Camp live on NFL Network talking about what the deal is with a new contract for Chase. Rapoport said:
“I’m not sure Ja’Marr Chase big contract is going to come this year.”
The Bengals do not need to pay him right away, but they should pay him sooner rather than later. Chase will not be a free agent until after the 2025 season. For this year, he will be paid a base salary north of $1 million but will be paid around $21 million next year.
His former college teammate Justin Jefferson received a lengthy contract extension this offseason for the Minnesota Vikings. Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is still holding out of camp because he does not have a new deal yet. Lamb is in the final year of his deal.
It would not be a surprise to see Ja’Marr Chase play this year without a new contract. If this transpires next training camp season, Chase will hold out again until he gets a new contract. Tee Higgins requested a trade earlier this offseason. Owner Mike Brown does not plan on paying Chase right now, but he better pay him at some point before Ja’Marr Chase gets rumored in trade talks.
