Team news: Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals added an "illness" designation to WR Ja'Marr Chase's status for Week 1 against the Patriots.

The star wide receiver was already in question for Week 1 due to his contract dispute. With the illness update, Chase is officially questionable for Sunday's game. Chase was listed as limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday and upgraded to full on Friday. Chase called himself a game-time decision Friday. This comes in addition to Tee Higgins being listed as doubtful with a hamstring injury. The Bengals elevated Kendrick Pryor from the practice squad as insurance.

Ja'Marr Chase was a full participant at practice and is questionable, per the official injury report.

Tee Higgins (hamstring) did not practice and is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Patriots.

Related Players: Trenton Irwin, Andrei Iosivas, Charlie Jones, Jermaine Burton

It seems as if the Chase contract situation might settle itself over the weekend, which would keep him on fantasy radars, even if he doesn't play his usual complement of snaps.

If one or both of the stud receivers miss Week 1, Iosivas would be the best bet to jump into WR3/4 range.

Adam Schefter said on the Pat McAfee Show: "The Ja'Marr Chase situation is tricky because he has two years left on his deal..I do believe the Bengals have made another push to try and get something done here..The question is will Ja'Marr Chase be willing to skip games."

Schefter pointed out the Bengals deal with Joe Burrow happened shortly after the opening kickoff of the 2023 season, and Schefter said it feels like something similar could happen with Chase this year. While he said it's going to be tricky, Schefter believes a deal will get done. Schefter also said a deal done this late into the process could mean Chase's snaps are limited in Week 1 and speculated maybe Chase just plays in the red zone until he gets back up to speed. He added the key is a Week 2 matchup with Kansas City.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor doesn’t have any answers for Ja’Marr Chase, who continued to sit out of practice Monday as he seeks a long-term extension. The season starts Sunday, and Taylor sounds as if doesn’t know whether he will have his star receiver.

“We’ll just take it day to day,” Taylor said Monday, via Emily Sanderson of WLWT.

Related players: Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas, Jermaine Burton

Chase’s availability for the Week 1 game against the Patriots is in doubt after he showed up for practice dressed in street clothes, watching from the sideline as he continues to hold in. If Chase does play, the question then becomes: How many snaps will he play, the story went on to say. Taylor also said via the story, “It’s impossible for me to say with 100 percent conviction, but I feel good about the shape that he’s in,” Taylor said.

Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is ready to go for the regular season.

Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor was asked today if he’s confident that Chase will play Week One against the Patriots, and Taylor answered with one word: “Yes.”

As the story explained, Chase skipped training camp practices because he’s unhappy with the Bengals not giving him the contract extension he’s seeking, but he returned to practice this week. Taylor said that Chase has looked great on the practice field, according to the story. Bengals ownership has said they didn't expect to get a deal done with Chase this season, but there could be some hope after CeeDee Lamb signed his deal this week.

The #Bengals agreed to terms on a three-year, $16.5 million extension with K Evan McPherson, per his agents.

McPherson will earn $10 million in new money in the first year of the deal, highest ever for a three-year kicker extension.

Money Mac is currently ranked as a top-10 fantasy kicker per 4for4's rankings.

Bengals RB Chris Evans suffered a torn patellar tendon during today’s practice, and he will miss the entire regular season.

Just a devastating blow for the former Michigan star, who was having a strong camp with Cincinnati.

Related Players: Zack Moss, Chase Brown, Trayveon Williams

It seemed as if Evans were on the outside looking in on the roster bubble, but this injury will clear the way for Williams to presumably lock in a spot. Hopefully Evans has a smooth recovery and finds a team for the 2025 season.

Tuesday's practice featured an added twist in the saga involving Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase.

For the first time in training camp, Chase was not present when the team was practicing. The fourth-year player had not been participating at practice as he awaits a contract extension, but had remained visible and involved during drills.

HC Zac Taylor said Tuesday, "Ja'Marr [is] day-to-day. We'll take it one day a time." Team president Mike Brown indicated a deal isn't likely to get done this year, but it's unclear what changed to cause Chase to miss Tuesday's practice.

As the calendar flips to mid-August, the Bengals and Ja’Marr Chase remain at an impasse.

Chase has not practiced throughout training camp in an apparent hold-in. Zac Taylor’s comments in his Monday press conference did not make it seem like Chase will return to the field soon.

“We’ll see. We’ll just keep taking it day-to-day,” Taylor said. “He and I have had good conversations.”

As the story went on to say, Chase is eligible for a contract extension after completing his third season. But team owner Mike Brown’s comments at the beginning of training camp made it seem like the team was not going to address a new deal for Chase this year.

Bengals RB Zack Moss missed the team’s preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with an illness.

Moss came down with the illness Friday. With Moss out, Chase Brown got the start against the Buccaneers. He carried five times for ten yards and caught a pass but did not gain any yards on the reception. The Bengals will be back in action next Saturday against the Chicago Bears.