Ja’Marr Chase returns to Bengals practice ahead of Patriots game amid contract rumors | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats & Rumors

Cincinnati Bengals star receiver Ja’Marr Chase has yet to receive the contract extension he’s been coveting since the summer, but it appears he’s ready to move on.

ESPN’s Ben Baby reported that Chase was present at Wednesday’s practice and was in uniform, indicating he would participate.

Chase did not participate in Monday’s practice due to his continued refusal to participate in practice. Head coach Zac Taylor said the team considers Chase “day-to-day” ahead of Sunday’s season opener against the New England Patriots. It’s unclear how much action the star receiver will see on the field due to the number of practice repetitions he missed this summer.

“I can’t say with 100 percent certainty, but I feel good about his form,” Taylor told reporters.

The three-time Pro Bowler hopes to become the latest receiver to land a big contract in a booming market. Minnesota Vikings star Justin Jefferson set the mark this offseason with an average of $35 million per year, and players like Dallas Cowboys star CeeDee Lamb and San Francisco 49ers star Brandon Aiyuk have been among those receiving huge paydays.

However, most of those players were entering the final year of their contracts before receiving their extensions, while Chase still has two years left on his rookie deal. The Bengals haven’t shown much eagerness to try to get a deal done this year because they have the luxury of waiting until next offseason.

It now appears Chase has accepted the likelihood of playing the 2024 season on his current contract, at least as a starter. His presence will help bolster Cincinnati’s hopes of making a run in the AFC competition and earning a playoff spot.