Ja’Marr Chase and the Cincinnati Bengals are preparing for their season opener against the New England Patriots, but Chase is still seeking a contract extension before Week 1. The three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver is a game-time decision for Sunday, and he’s hoping to secure a new deal soon, even though he has two years left on his rookie contract. Typically, rookie extensions are negotiated one year before a player hits free agency, but Chase hoped to finalize his extension a year earlier, following the same path as his teammate Joe Burrow, who signed his deal in 2023.
Chase clarified that he did not demand a contract extension during the offseason. In fact, he revealed that it was the Bengals’ staff who approached him with the idea of an extension. According to Chase, he was informed earlier this offseason that he would get a new contract this year. Despite his hopes, a deal has not yet been finalized.
Chase set a personal deadline for the Bengals to reach an agreement by Friday. While no official extension has been announced, Chase remains optimistic, saying the two sides are “pretty close” in terms of value. He mentioned that only a few numbers need to be adjusted before they can finalize the agreement. “I wanna say we’re off a little bit but it’s in reach,” Chase explained, expressing confidence that they’re nearing an agreement.
Although there were earlier reports that Chase might extend his holdout into the regular season, he stated that he’s ready to play without a new contract. However, since he hasn’t been practicing with the team, he will need to work on regaining his stamina to be fully ready for game action. Chase confirmed that Cincinnati’s current offer aligns with the Bengals’ owner Mike Brown’s previous comments about doing everything possible to sign him. “Now it does, yes,” Chase said when asked if the offer reflects Brown’s statement.
With the deadline Chase set approaching, he remains hopeful that an agreement will be reached soon. “Who knows what will happen in these next couple of hours,” Chase said, leaving the door open for a last-minute deal before the season starts.
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