Ja’Marr Chase Returns To Bengals Practice Without New Deal, Will Start Week 1

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase returned to practice Wednesday, ending his extended hiatus without a new deal. In an off-season full of similar holdouts, Chase is one of many star players who will have to be game-ready Week 1 without meaningful preparation over the summer.

While 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk earned most of the headlines this off-season for his extensive negotiations, which eventually culminated in San Francisco offering him a $120 million deal, Chase’s tactics have been uniquely discreet. For one, the 24-year-old has been ‘holding in,’ not out, meaning that he has been with the team all summer but has not been practicing.

In terms of price, details were scant for a long time while the two sides talked, with the only sense of clarity stemming from the fact that Chase would be seeking a massive deal. In three NFL seasons, the LSU product has amassed 3,717 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns, making him one of the foremost players at his position. With his rookie contract ending in 2025, his next contract is sure to be lucrative.

Last week, sources close to the situation finally revealed exactly what Chase was looking for. Some saw it as petty. Several months after Vikings star Justin Jefferson signed a record-breaking four-year, $140 million extension, Chase reportedly asked Cincinnati to pay him “one penny more” than his old LSU teammate. He is asking to become the highest paid position player in NFL history.

In an interview on “Up and Adams” Wednesday, shortly before Chase returned to practice, Jefferson sent an encouraging message to his friend, while also warning him about the dangers of missing time.

“I hope that he gets the contract that he’s looking for, but I also hope that he plays it smart and not let it get in the way of, you know, his greatness and being on that field,” Jefferson said.

In due time, Chase will be paid about as well as he believes he deserves, but for now, he will continue playing under his rookie contract and hope to come to terms with Cincinnati in the near future. It is unlikely that the team wants to part ways with the star, who has shown plenty of rapport with quarterback Joe Burrow, another former LSU teammate, and figures to be a fixture in the NFL for years to come. He is currently slated to start Week 1 against the Patriots.