Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is reportedly leaning towards not playing in the team’s opener this weekend.
Chase, who has two years left on his current deal with the AFC outfit, has been holding out for a new deal, and the team is in danger of starting the season without him.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter suggested that the Bengals have made another appeal to the player heading into their Week 1 opener against the New England Patriots this coming Sunday.
“The Ja’Marr Chase situation is tricky because he has two years left on his deal..I do believe the Bengals have made another push to try and get something done here,” the NFL insider said on the Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday. “The question is will Ja’Marr Chase be willing to skip games.”
🚨BREAKING: Star receiver Ja’Marr Chase is trending towards NOT PLAYING in the #Bengals season opener if a deal is not reached soon, ESPN reports.
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This would be a major loss for Cincinnati. pic.twitter.com/ym9hz7KYVA
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) September 4, 2024
Ja’Marr Chase Just One Of Multiple Big-Name Wideouts To Hold Out This Year
Several big-name wide receivers have signed lucrative extensions this offseason. The Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, and Detroit Lions all saved themselves the headache by getting their business done early.
But teams such as the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, and the Bengals left it late, with Cincinnati now the only one of the three needing to hand their star receiver a new contract before the start of the season.
Of course, there is still some time to come to terms with the player. But they might decide to call his bluff.