CINCINNATI — Any movement in the deadlock would be noteworthy.
So when Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jamar Chase took the field at Paykor Stadium on Sunday, it was significant. Without a contract extension, Chase did not practice during training camp, which ended before the team’s preseason finale on Thursday.
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter said Chase’s presence on the field during negotiations was a goodwill gesture, but that it didn’t necessarily mean the two sides were any closer to a solution.
There are still bigger questions about Chase and his availability for the season-opening game against the New England Patriots on Sept. 8 (1 p.m. ET, CBS). We may get some answers this week.
After a light practice early in the week, Wednesday will be Chase’s first standard practice since his recent intervention. What he does and says will be important in gauging his status going forward.
“His business is his business,” quarterback Joe Burrows said at the start of training camp on July 24. “He’s encouraging the guys here, and I don’t know what his plans are right now, but I know he’s with us 100 percent.”
“Plan” was one of the catchphrases of Bengals training camp. In the early stages of Chase’s absence, coach Zac Taylor repeatedly mentioned it when asked about the receiver’s status. It was met with laughter when it became the default response in Taylor’s press conferences to neutralize perceived tension.
“My brother is killing me because of my plans,” Taylor said July 29, referring to Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor. “He wants to know what the plan is.”
Going back to the team’s mandatory minicamp, Chase seemed to follow some participation parameters. After failing to report for a voluntary workout, he participated in part of the team’s mandatory minicamp, which was similar to a walk-through. When that ended and the team transitioned to a regular practice period, Chase took a break. During training camp, Chase participated in some walk-throughs.
And he was always visible, even when he didn’t practice. That changed on August 13, when he was absent from the team’s final warm-up in Cincinnati ahead of a joint practice and preseason game against the Chicago Bears.
After missing that day, Chase went on a trip and has attended every practice since, but Taylor refuses to say whether it was an excused or unexcused absence. The tone of Taylor’s discussion of Chase’s status has also changed.
“I’ve said everything I’m going to say on that issue,” Taylor said on Aug. 19.
If Chase practices Wednesday, it would further indicate that he wants to play in Week 1, even though he has no contract extension. A source familiar with the negotiations told ESPN there was nothing new to report on the matter as of Sunday. In the past, Chase has expressed a desire to be paid at the top of the market.
The market was abuzz on Monday when Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb agreed to a four-year, $136 million contract. Lamb is currently the second-highest-paid receiver in the NFL, behind Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson, who is worth $35 million per season.
Chase hasn’t said much since last season ended. He’s declined all media requests since minicamp.
That’s why what he says and does this week is so important as the Bengals prepare for a big season.
“Whenever he comes back here,” Burrows said in July, “he’s going to be the Jamar Chase that everyone knows.”
