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Ben Baby, Editor at ESPN
CINCINNATI – Even the best-laid plans can go awry.
Less than 24 hours after Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor said Ja’Marr Chase would continue practicing this week, he did not participate in Wednesday’s practice as the team continued its preparations for the season opener.
Speaking to reporters after practice on Wednesday, Taylor indicated that he was too early to speak about the star wide receiver’s status.
“I think I probably got off track because I spoke too quickly,” Taylor said. “This is a common situation, too. We’ll just continue to look at it that way.”
Chase, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, participated in lighter workouts earlier in the week before the team held a more traditional game-week workout on Wednesday. A few minutes after the team began stretching, Chase entered the team’s indoor training bubble without a uniform. Chase, who did not participate in any of the team’s workouts, did not speak to reporters afterward.
Taylor confirmed that Chase remains healthy, which the wide receiver has maintained since the team’s mandatory minicamp in July, where he also did not practice.
Chase currently has two years left on his rookie contract, including a fifth-year option worth $21.8 million in 2025.
Wednesday’s events also undermine Taylor’s statement the day before that he was confident Chase would play in Week 1. On Wednesday, Taylor said that from a functional standpoint, Chase could play in the opening game against the New England Patriots on Sept. 8 if he did not practice this week.
However, the sixth-year coach declined to make any predictions about Chase’s return timeline.
“I think every day is a new day,” Taylor said Wednesday. “We’re going to keep working on it. We’re not going to make any predictions about what tomorrow will bring.”
“I think I probably slipped up because I spoke too quickly. Again, this is a common situation. We’ll just continue to look at it that way.”
Bengals coach Zac Taylor
“At the end of the day, Ja’Marr is a great guy who means a lot to this team and we’re just going to continue to take it day by day.”
Bengals center Ted Karras said he understands both the team and Chase when it comes to a negotiation of this magnitude. Chase wants to get to the top of the wide receiver market created by the Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson this offseason when he signed a four-year deal worth $35 million annually, including $110 million in guaranteed salary.
“There’s absolutely no ill will among the players,” said Karras, who added he was unaware of any internal negotiations between Chase and the team. “This is between them. Hopefully they can work it out and it’ll be a really big day for Ja’Marr and this team.”
