Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase returns to practice amid contract holdout

Kyle Smith

Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase returns to practice amid contract holdout image

The Cincinnati Bengals officially kicked off their week one game prep on Wednesday and received a massive boost to the offense.

Superstar wide receiver, Ja’Marr Chase, suited up and returned to the practice field Wednesday.

This marks the first practice he has participated in outside of two other practices last week.

Prior to Wednesday, his status had been described as “day-to-day” according to Zac Taylor.

While Chase practiced in some capacity, it isn't fully clear if he was a full participant. It doesn't truly matter. What matters is that he's back.

While Chase has begun practicing for the Bengals, he is still in search of a new contract. There haven't been any reports of a deal being done so it remains to be seen whether Chase is simply returning to avoid fines.

There have been reports of Chase waiting for both CeeDee Lamb and Justin Jefferson to earn their new paydays before inking a long-term deal with Cincinnati.

Bengals owner Mike Brown stated the team “bend over backwards” to sign Chase, and they will have to pony up the big bucks to make that happen.

It is likely Chase will become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL when his extension is completed. 

With Chase officially practicing, he looks to be in the fold for the Bengals' Week 1 matchup against the New England Patriots, even if just a limited fashion. 

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Kyle Smith

Kyle Smith Photo

Kyle Smith joined The Sporting News as a freelance writer in 2024, and covers the Cincinnati Bengals and the NFL. Kyle was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and is a graduate of Western Kentucky University. He is an avid fan of the NFL Draft and all things football. Kyle has previously had stops at Pro Football Network, Heavy Sports, and TWSN. Follow him on X @Kyle_Smith1087.