NFL insider raises red flags over Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase's contract situation
Ja'Marr Chase is one of the few dangling loose threads of the 2024 offseason negotiation queue. Just like Brandon Aiyuk and CeeDee Lamb, the regular season is a fortnight away and all three stars are hoping for a big change in their salary.
One NFL insider believes that like with Lamb and Aiyuk, "there hasn't been a lot of progress." Speaking on "Fantasy Sports Now" on Tuesday, Adam Schefter claimed the team would try to get a deal done, but had preferred to wait.
“Right now, this is the one that, to me, remains the most mysterious. Unlike Brandon Aiyuk and CeeDee Lamb, Ja’Marr Chase has two years left on his contract. We’ve already heard Bengals president Mike Brown come out and say that he would prefer to wait to do this deal.
"I think Cincinnati will push to get this deal. But, from my understanding, there hasn’t been a whole lot of progress.”
This raises the tension for fans in Cincinnati. With Joe Mixon gone, more pressure falls on Joe Burrow to win games with his arm.
To do so, he seemingly will need to deliver to his No. 1 receiver, Ja'Marr Chase. With Chase's availability for Week 1 up in the air, it appears to be more likely that the quarterback may need to hold the fort without the wide receiver.
Of course, only Chase knows if he will show up for the game, but if he delays much longer, the question of rust will loom over the player.
Ja'Marr Chase-less Bengals flirt with potentially disastrous showing against Chiefs in Week 2
The Bengals might like their chances without Ja'Marr Chase against the Jacoby Brissett-led Patriots in Week 1. However, in Week 2, the team faces their biggest interdivisional rival in the form of Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Considering the vaunted history of the two franchises over the years and the storyline concerning "Burrowhead," the stakes will likely be elevated for Week 2.
The Chiefs reloaded their wide receiver room over the offseason, but the Bengals will have taken a massive step back without Chase. As such, with the game also taking place in Patrick Mahomes' building, the Bengals could be coming into the game much weaker than they otherwise would be.
Some would argue that Chase's absence would be the perfect smokescreen to give the Bengals an out from any criticism. However, the complaints would be leveled directly at Chase. Of course, both teams will want the additional tiebreaker that could tip the scales in their favor when it comes to seeding as well.
Will Ja'Marr Chase hold out through the next chapter of the Mahomes-Burrow saga?
If any of the above quotes are used, credit "Fantasy Football Now" and H/T Sportskeeda.