Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has not been practicing with the team throughout the offseason and the preseason as he seeks a new contract from the team. And according to one Cincinnati Bengals legend, it sounds like there’s a chance he could skip games during the regular season if he doesn’t get that new contract.
During a recent interview with ESPN’s Adam Schefter, former Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Chad Johnson – also known as Ochocinco – said that he expects the two sides will get a new contract done by the start of the season, but he expected that Ja’Marr Chase would refuse to play during the regular season without a new contract.
“This is the only way to get deals done,” Ochocinco said. “CeeDee Lamb is doing the same thing. Brandon Aiyuk is doing the same thing. You have to let the owners know that you’re able to separate the love for the game (from) the business like the owners do.”
Former Cincinnati standout WR @ochocinco expects the Bengals and Ja’Marr Chase to get a long-term deal done this week. But in the event that they don’t, Johnson also believes Chase won’t step on the field without a new contract.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 19, 2024
Chase has been one of the most important players on the Bengals roster since his rookie season in which he won the 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year, so it would obviously be a big loss if he did indeed hold out this season.
It’s worth noting, however, that Chase did indeed return to practice for the first time on Sunday, but that does not necessarily mean that he will play during the season without a new contract.
