Tag: bengals news

Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals contract standoff updated by multiple reports

What reports currently have to say about the Ja’Marr Chase contract situation with the Bengals.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase said his deadline for a contract extension was the Friday before Week 1.

As of Saturday morning, though, all onlookers have are reports from the media about the happenings and no news on a new deal.

Friday night, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported that things are currently in “contract chicken” mode:

Here’s how we understand things. Chase has communicated his best number to the Bengals. The Bengals believe, we’re told, that if they don’t move from their current number, Chase will accept it on Saturday.

The following morning, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that things are in the “redzone” for the two sides, though things very much remain in Chase’s hands.

What’s interesting here is that Chase suggested on Friday that he would, indeed, play without a new extension, although in Week 1, he might be “limited” on a snap count perhaps under his normal workload.

No matter how it plays out, Saturday and up to kickoff on Sunday might finalize things one way or the other, it seems, with both parties entrenched.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase makes telling comments about contract standoff

Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase met with the media and had some things to say about his contract extension.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase could have used his anticipated media interview session on Friday to seemingly put some pressure on the team about his extension.

But he didn’t totally commit to that route, instead suggesting that he could at least somewhat play without a new deal.

Chase told reporters after practice that a contract extension is “in reach,” per Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. He also said that while he’s a game-time decision against the New England Patriots, he could be “limited” if he does suit up, per WLWT’s Charlie Clifford.

Per the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Charlie Goldsmith, Chase said his deadline for an extension was Friday.

Prior to this, a recent report said that meaningful progress on extension talks is what spurred Chase to return to practice at all ahead of Week 1.

For now, it seems clear that Chase and the Bengals remain close, but that it’s on the team to drag things over the finish line.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Why Ja’Marr Chase returned to Bengals practice despite contract standoff

A key negotiations reason explains why Ja’Marr Chase is back practicing with the Bengals.

The latest on the contract drama between the Cincinnati Bengals and Ja’Marr Chase continues to be good news.

Wednesday, Chase was a “limited” participant in practice, with the videos of him walking in pads and eventually repping with Joe Burrow quickly going viral.

Those who thought that meant contract talk progress would be correct, too.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that very thing later the same night, though suggested that doesn’t mean a deal is imminent.

“The Bengals have made significant offers to Ja’Marr Chase,” Rapoport said. “I would say at least somewhat in the neighborhood of what he wants. They do not have a deal yet. I wouldn’t describe this as close. But I would say that it’s at least close enough for JaMarr Chase to practice. That is a big deal. I know there’s some optimism.”

The fact the Bengals are close enough to get Chase on the field ahead of Week 1 would seem to be a good sign, though. That is much better than say, needing to sit back and analyze his cryptic social media posts or the messages he’s sending to the team by sitting out.

Earlier this week, a supposed “stalemate” was broken when the Bengals got more aggressive on an extension in response to Chase’s camp finally opening up the talks more.

Given the pace of things now, one has to think that a deal remains possible between right now and through Saturday night.

For what it’s worth, the Bengals announced the Joe Burrow extension last year on a Thursday night as the Kansas City Chiefs opened the season’s kickoff. Those Chiefs again open the season this week on Thursday night. For what it’s worth, anyway.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Ja’Marr Chase contract holdout: Zac Taylor comments, practice update

The latest on Ja’Marr Chase and the Bengals during his contract holdout ahead of Week 1.

Cincinnati Bengals fans won’t be surprised to find out that head coach Zac Taylor had little to say about the contract standoff or practice fate of star wideout Ja’Marr Chase.

What they might be surprised to find out, though, is that Chase dressed for practice on Wednesday.

Chase didn’t participate on Monday, though Wednesday was really the landmark day to watch as it signaled the first serious prep work for the Week 1 opener against the New England Patriots.

That Chase was out there and dressed at all (as opposed to the street clothes that he donned for most of training camp) didn’t immediately hint to contract progress, or whether he just wanted to be out there with his teammates when it mattered.

The biggest pre-Wednesday updates focused on a cryptic social media post from Chase and a report that he was still part of the team’s Week 1 gameplan.

Otherwise, as the Bengals ramped up their efforts to do an extension, another report said a “stalemate” had been broken.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Ja’Marr Chase extension watch: NFL insider reveals ‘some progress’

Things are heating up for the Bengals and Ja’Marr Chase on the extension front.

As we wrote over the weekend, things have taken a turn for the positive between the Cincinnati Bengals and star wideout Ja’Marr Chase when it comes to his upcoming extension.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport updated the situation on Monday morning with a positive slant.

“The two sides are in talks for a deal though to make him among the highest-paid receivers in the NFL, or the highest-paid receiver, higher than Justin Jefferson,” Rapoport said. “There have been some talks, there has been some progress, but there’s for sure nothing done yet. So we’ll see what his status is.”

A prior report made it clear that the Bengals had upped their efforts to get an extension done after Chase reverted back to being a non-participant in practice last week.

For the Bengals, the Chase extension scenario has unfolded a year early due to other deals across the league. But it would behoove the organization to give arguably the best receiver in the league the deal he deserves before practice begins in earnest this week as the season opener against the New England Patriots looms closer.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

NFL analyst wonders if things will get ‘uglier’ for Bengals, Ja’Marr Chase

One analyst wonders how bad things could get between the Bengals and Ja’Marr Chase.

By most accounts, the contract impasse between the Cincinnati Bengals and star wideout Ja’Marr Chase has been a relatively peaceful thing.

If anything, the “hold-in” is the best way Chase could have gone about showing his desire for a new contract while not pulling some of the theatrics seen by, say, Brandon Aiyuk in San Francisco.

And yet, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio wonders how ugly things might get over the course of the next week:

The situation has yet to explode, due in large part to the fact that the media hasn’t really focused on the situation — not with the Cowboys consuming all of the oxygen and attention. Of course, neither the Bengals nor Chase’s camp have provided many quotes or sound bites that would create headlines.

The simple truth is that it has been ugly. And there’s a good chance that, if Chase doesn’t get his deal by Thursday of this week, it could get a lot uglier.

There’s no question things silently escalated over the last week when Chase returned to practice, then sent a message to the team by shutting down again after some comments by head coach Zac Taylor.

But to suggest things have already been ugly feels off-base at this point. And national media hasn’t constantly gone over the story for a few reasons. Chief among those — the Bengals don’t give up a lot of leaky information and neither do Chase’s reps and frankly, the media had things like the tiring Aiyuk saga to command attention.

Now, things could get nasty as Week 1 practices fire up this week, sure. Chase is going to use his last bit of leverage and it could come at the expense of the team on the field when the games start to matter.

But as we’ve consistently written, it’s reasonable to think that a deal will get done. The Bengals don’t have a great reason to wait now that the market has reset, although it’s a year earlier than the team had probably hoped or anticipated.

Hence, things seemingly taking a turn on the whole Chase contract saga over the weekend.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

The Ja’Marr Chase contract saga with Bengals appears to take a turn

An update on the Ja’Marr Chase contract saga as the Bengals approach Week 1.

There appears to be some significant movement on the Ja’Marr Chase contract saga front for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Let a new report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tell it, the team has ramped up its efforts to get an extension done before Week 1 practice really gets going.

“From what I’m hearing, the Bengals have intensified their efforts to try to get this done in recent days. They are hopeful to try and get him back onto the practice field,” Fowler said on ESPN. “Nothing is imminent. People I’ve talked to in the building are somewhat optimistic and hopeful. There’s a feeling in the locker room that they can get him back here. But they’ve got to get this across the finish line.”

This…isn’t all that shocking. While Chase having two years left on his rookie contract complicates matters from a structure standpoint, the big three in front of him on the market — Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, Brandon Aiyuk — are all done.

Next up is Chase, who just sent a very clear message to the Bengals by reverting to a non-participant in recent practices. That, after Zac Taylor had suggested things were back to normal.

While Chase exercises the very last of his leverage, the Bengals don’t have many reasons not to get something done now to avoid issues. Chase deserves and will likely match or even slightly overcome Jefferson’s number and if that happens, given how fast the market moves, he won’t be in the top spot by this time next year.

This is the first credible report detailing the inner workings of this saga in a while. That it says the Bengals are making the push is good news. There’s a chance things still delay until next offseason, but in the past, the organization has been good at getting deals done with superstars in crunch time right before the season starts.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

9 thoughts on Bengals final roster, waiver wire and practice squad

Quick thoughts on the big-ticket Bengals items before Week 1.

The Cincinnati Bengals hit on a nice break over the weekend before they really start prepping for that Week 1 contest against the New England Patriots.

While that happens, here’s a quick look at some thoughts about the final cuts, roster and practice squad.

  • The Ja’Marr Chase contract thing isn’t nearly as big of a deal as some national media want it to be. He’s using the last bit of leverage he has to show he’s serious about an extension. But the fact he has two years left on his deal complicates things. Compared to Brandon Aiyuk in San Francisco, he could be handling it much, much worse. There’s not a major concern he wouldn’t play in Week 1. Plus, it’s not uncomfortable to suggest a deal could still happen before the opener.
  • Losing upside names like DT Carlos Davis and CB Lance Robinson at final cuts hurt — but that’s what happens when a 10-player draft class and two undrafted names earn final roster spots. Frankly, it’s stunningly impressive for what was already a contention-worthy roster.
  • It’s surprising to see names like WR Kendric Pryor slip onto the practice squad, but it’s hard to complain about.
  • One of the four outside names the Bengals added to the practice squad, HB Kendall Milton, is a rookie with upside who could be a major player in the offense down the road.
  • The team’s only waiver wire claim might not last long once other guys get healthy, but it sure doesn’t hurt that he has a prior connection to members of the coaching staff.
  • It stinks to see Samaje Perine choose elsewhere in free agency after getting cut in Denver. But he wasn’t a necessity, not when Zack Moss and Chase Brown should dominate the backfield.
  • Myles Murphy going to injured reserve might be a blessing in disguise. He can slowly ramp back up right now and re-debut a month into the season at full force. In the meantime, someone like Joseph Ossai can really prove themselves in the rotation. Given what the former first-rounder flashed last year, he could be one of those major additions in the winter months that spurs a playoff push.
  • Maybe the only place the Bengals managed to get worse this summer was at punter, with Brad Robbins on injured reserve and the up-and-down Ryan Rehkow looking like the opening-day starter. But maybe he evens out and keeps the job — who knows?
  • One of the biggest things to watch next week will be Amarius Mims. If he can get a couple of practices in, there’s a chance he could still steal the right tackle job from Trent Brown.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Ja’Marr Chase update: Bengals WR out of practice on Thursday

An update on Thursday from the contract saga between the Cincinnati Bengals and Ja’Marr Chase.

The contract saga between the Cincinnati Bengals and Ja’Marr Chase has entered daily update land ahead of Week 1.

On Thursday, Chase was again not dressed for practice and watched from the sidelines.

Prior to this, things got a little weird in Cincinnati on Wedneday when Chase didn’t practice, instead showing up in street clothes. That, after he had returned to being a participant earlier in the week and head coach Zac Taylor had suggested all was going back to normal for Chase and that he should be ready go go for Week 1.

For one NFL insider, Chase’s reverting back to a non-participant was him sending a message to the team in response to Taylor’s comments.

For his part, Taylor walked back his comments, suggesting he might’ve spoken too soon on the topic.

As always, the usual things apply here. Chase has two years left on his rookie deal, but recent big paydays for Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb have accelerated things. The Bengals have made it clear they will do whatever it takes to keep Chase long-term.

As of now, though, there’s little reason to think Chase won’t ramp up and play Week 1 and the extension happens next summer, as originally expected. Some of this has been expected posturing and leverage plays that usually happen around these possible mega-contracts. A report says both parties are still working on the extension right now.

Even so, Chase is now the headline act for the Bengals every single day until something changes or they kick off the regular season.

Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic provided the visual of Chase going out to practice:

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Bengals make flurry of roster moves with practice squad, injured reserve

The Bengals made lots of roster moves after the waiver wire process.

The Cincinnati Bengals hit on a series of roster moves on Thursday after final cuts and the waiver wire process.

There, the team re-signed running back Trayveon Williams, who was cut the day prior to make room for the team’s only waiver wire claim.

To make room, they shifted rookie defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson to injured reserve.

The Bengals also expanded on their initial practice squad, hitting the 16-man limit by adding the following names:

  • –G Tashawn Manning
  • –HB Kendall Milton
  • –DT Justin Rogers
  • –DE Isaiah Thomas

Those are all new arrivals from outside the team in various capacities, with Rogers’ arrival previously reported.

The Bengals were thin along the interior of the defensive line after announcing the initial 53-man roster, so it’s reasonable to expect that Rogers is somebody they might call up on gameday for depth.

Jackson is technically on IR-return, joining former first-round edge Myles Murphy and starting punter Brad Robbins. Williams returning to the active roster means they still have just three running backs on the 53, with him still slotting in behind Zack Moss and Chase Brown.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]