The Cincinnati Bengals could be without star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase when they take on the New England Patriots in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season.
Chase wanted a new contract and began a hold-in during training camp this fall. When it seemed like there was momentum to a deal being done, he would get in a practice session but often would be in street clothes on the sidelines the next day. Chase voiced his frustration over the process and has watched as guys like CeeDee Lamb and Brandon Aiyuk put pen to paper on their contract extensions.
Chase stated he wanted the contract done by the start of the season but that he would still play if nothing materialized. In a media scrum Friday, he said he would be ready to play close to his usual workload of snaps but wouldn't be at 100 percent due to the situation. On top of that, Chase woke up Saturday with an illness, which further questioned his availability for Sunday's contest against the Patriots.
Will Ja'Marr Chase Play in Week 1?
The inactive player list for games with a 1 p.m. ET kickoff is released at 11:30 a.m. ET. We will get more clarity on Chase's availability when the team goes through early warm-ups, and for now, his status remains unclear. It is worth noting that Chase said he felt better as Saturday progressed.
While his official status is still up in the air, Chase is on the field for pre-game warmups. He was seen walking the field and casually catching passes from a staff member.
Chase is officially active for Cincinnati's Week 1 game against the Patriots. It wouldn't be surprising to see him limited in his snap count, but with teammate Tee Higgins being inactive, the Bengals need Chase to have an impact.
Is Ja'Marr Chase injured?
Chase isn't hurt outside of the illness that popped up on Saturday. When the team listed him on the injury report this week, it had the designation "NIR," which stands for "not injury related" and often included "rest."
Ja'Marr Chase Contract
Chase was drafted with the fifth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. According to Spotrac, he was signed to a $30.82 million deal with a $19.77 million signing bonus. This is the final year of his rookie deal, and the Bengals front office has already picked up Chase's fifth-year option, meaning that the wide receiver is under contract through the 2025 season.
Chase and the Bengals are not expected to agree to a last-minute contract extension on Sunday morning, per Adam Schefter.