Ja’Marr Chase has been a welcome sight at Cincinnati Bengals practice recently, his coach expects him to play Week 1 and he’s amid contract talks for a hefty extension.
Things seem to be trending in the right direction for the Bengals’ top wide receiver.
Chase and Cincinnati remain in discussions regarding a potential long-term extension that would tie him with the Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson as the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver or would push him above Jefferson by one cent, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday.
Rapoport added that he believes Chase making one penny more than his former LSU teammate Jefferson “is in the fact the goal.”
The fifth-overall selection of the 2021 NFL Draft, Chase has two seasons remaining on his rookie pact, including his fifth-year option. He’s due a paltry $1.05 million in base salary this year.
Jefferson inked a landmark four-year, $140 million extension in June that put him tops among receivers in total value and average per year ($35 million).
Chase has largely refrained from practicing during training camp as a hold-in, not a holdout, Rapoport specified.
On Tuesday, head coach Zac Taylor was asked if he expected Chase to play and simply replied, “Yes.” It was a fitting retort as Taylor has been noticeably tight-lipped regarding all matters Chase this summer. Nonetheless, as noted by Rapoport, Chase is contractually obligated to play the season opener, anyhow.
The 24-year-old has emerged as one of the elite wide receivers in the game, evidenced by his trio of Pro Bowl selections and three 1,000-yard seasons in each of his NFL campaigns.
Rapoport noted there’s no guessing as to when a new deal will come to fruition, but as Chase seeks a raise commensurate with his production, he’s engaging in talks with the front office while keeping matters largely unaddressed in the media.
Despite the lack of a new contract, things appear to be headed in the right direction in the Queen City.