There’s been an entire saga between the Cincinnati Bengals and Ja’Marr Chase‘s contract negotiation throughout this offseason. Now that the 2024-25 season is here, the Bengals and Chase have come to a crossroads.
Despite practicing as “limited” the week prior to Week 1, however, Chase will suit up for the Bengals against the New England Patriots.
Plus, according to Ian Rappaport, the Bengals made a “significant contract offer.” Perhaps this saga is nearing its end.
From @NFLGameDay Kickoff: #Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase will be ready to go Sunday, per QB Joe Burrow. But will he have a new contract? pic.twitter.com/ghtMUy8gmy
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 5, 2024
Bengals Will Have Ja’Marr Chase in Week 1
After leading what could be considered the best college football team to a National Championship in 2019, Chase sat out 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Bengals took Chase fifth overall.
As a rookie, Chase was an immediate impact playmaker. Despite comical preseason worries about catching the football, Chase hauled in 81 passes for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns. He shattered A.J. Green‘s Bengals rookie record by nearly 400 yards. Chase was also an integral part of the Super Bowl run, amassing 368 yards and a touchdown off 25 receptions in the four-game postseason.
In his second season, he was dealing with a few nagging injuries. As a result, his 2022 season was a step back, only managing 1,046 yards and nine touchdowns off 87 receptions. Again, he was integral to the Bengals getting back to the AFC Championship with 220 yards and two touchdowns in the Bengals’ three postseason games.
Last year, Chase returned to normal. He totaled 100 receptions for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns.
In each season, Chase was picked to represent the Bengals at the Pro Bowl. He has 14 100-yard receiving games to his credit with two more coming in the playoffs. Chase has two 200-yard games, including his career-best 266-yard game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17 as he led the Bengals to its first AFC North division title in six years.
Last year, Chase broke the Bengals’ single-game receptions record with 15 in the Week 5 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
Chase has only played the Patriots once before. Back on Christmas Eve in 2022, Chase hauled in seven passes for 79 yards in the narrow win in Foxboro.
