Bengals star receiver Ja’Marr Chase has been officially listed as questionable with an illness ahead of Cincinnati’s season-opener against the Patriots on Sunday.
Chase returned to practice this week after “holding in” for a new contract through the preseason. He told reporters that he was a game-time decision for Week 1, admitting that he would “probably be limited” if he did play against New England.
Chase is entering the fourth year of his rookie contract and is due $1.05 million in base salary this season. He said that he would be willing to play this year without a new deal in place, despite previously being told Cincinnati would offer a new deal to him.
While Chase claims a new contract hasn't been offered yet, the Bengals have already picked up Chase's fifth-year option for 2025, which would pay him $21.8 million, per OverTheCap's database.
This offseason, three star receivers — Justin Jefferson (four years, $140 million), CeeDee Lamb (four years, $136 million) and Brandon Aiyuk (four years, $120 million) — signed new contract deals that reset the receiver market. Tyreek Hill also restructured his deal, landing at three years and $90 million.
Ja’Marr Chase on a report that he wants one penny more than Justin Jefferson: “If I want to beat Justin Jefferson, I’m going to beat the sh*t out of Justin. Not by a penny, brother.”
(🎥 @marshallkramsky)
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 6, 2024
Chase has been waiting for a new deal from Cincinnati and said earlier this week he felt that a new deal was “in reach.”
On Sunday, Cincinnati’s receiving corps will look vastly different from its projected starting unit. In addition to Chase, receiver Tee Higgins is expected to miss the contest with a hamstring injury.
Practice squad wideout Kendrick Pryor was elevated to the Bengals roster with Chase and Higgins expected to be out.
Despite quarterback Joe Burrow’s favorite targets being out, the Bengals are still expected to win against the Patriots and are favored -7.5 and -345 SU.
Chase, a three-time Pro Bowler, is currently among the betting favorites to win Offensive Player of the Year, entering the year with the fifth-best odds (+1200) of capturing the award, behind Hill (+700), Lamb (+900), Christian McCaffrey (+900), and Jefferson (+1000).
Cincinnati is among the favorites to compete for the Super Bowl. The Bengals enter the season tied with the Cowboys for the sixth-best odds to win the championship at +1500.
