It appears the Bengals will indeed have Ja’Marr Chase for their season opener.
The star wideout has been sitting out practice in recent days as he seeks a new contract.
While it’s unclear whether Chase and the organization have made any headway on that front, Chase arrived at practice on Wednesday wearing his uniform and carrying his helmet.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor had been cagey about Chase earlier Wednesday.
Asked if Chase would practice, Taylor merely said, “We’ll see.”
The Bengals host the Patriots in their season opener on Sunday.
Chase had 100 catches for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns last season, a high level of production that occurred despite starting quarterback Joe Burrow missing the team’s final seven games after sustaining a torn ACL.
Chase has made the Pro Bowl in all three of his NFL seasons and was the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2021.
Over the weekend, ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler said that the Bengals have been “intensifying” efforts to reach a new deal with Chase that would make him one of the highest paid wide receivers in the NFL.