Tips, predictions and best bets for Sunday’s games in the first week of the NFL
Lorenzo is back to bring you his favorite bets for each week of the NFL season. See what his favorite picks are for Sunday’s games.
Ja’Marr Chase is fighting a thrilling battle with the Cincinnati Bengals until the end.
The three-time Pro Bowl receiver’s status for Sunday’s regular-season opener against the New England Patriots is uncertain as his contract extension bid is still pending. Making matters worse, Chase was placed on the injured list on Saturday due to an illness, officially listing his availability for the game as questionable. If Chase doesn’t play, quarterback Joe Burrow will likely be without his two top targets as Tee Higgins is listed as questionable due to a hamstring injury.
Here’s what you need to know about Chase and its status through Sunday:
Ja’Marr Chase News: Contract Negotiation Update and Week 1 Outlook
Chase’s playing status for Sunday was not clear as of Saturday night, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported. A contract extension is not expected before the game, Schefter added, although Chase said Friday he believes the two sides are “pretty close” on terms.
However, on Saturday the Bengals still assumed Chase would play, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Chase said it was his decision whether to play on Sunday. The receiver was absent for the entirety of training camp but participated in practices Wednesday through Friday, citing recent progress in talks.
Chase, who has two years left on his rookie contract, wants to receive a severance package after a season-long break in which the wide receiver market was realigned. Six pass catchers have signed contracts with an average annual income of at least $30 million. The new top earners are Justin Jefferson (four years, $140 million) of the Minnesota Vikings and CeeDee Lamb (four years, $136 million) of the Dallas Cowboys.
Chase denied a report that he was trying to earn a penny more than Jefferson, his former teammate at LSU.
“If I’m going to beat Justin, I’m going to beat the shit out of him,” Chase said. “Not for a penny, brother.”
If Chase plays, he acknowledged that his options would likely be limited.
However, Burrow wasn’t worried about his top target’s ability to perform despite minimal training. “I know he’s done everything he needs to do to stay ready when he needs to be ready,” Burrow said Wednesday. “I’m confident he’ll be the Ja’Marr we all know when he goes out there on Sunday.”
Bengals’ wide receiver depth chart behind Chase
If Chase sits out, the Bengals’ passing game could see a drastic change from its peak.
Higgins, who had his own contract dispute with the Bengals in the offseason before signing his franchise contract, is unlikely to play. If the team’s two top targets are out, Cincinnati could rely heavily on second-year receivers Andrei Iosivas – the Princeton product and former heptathlete – and Charlie Jones, as well as Trenton Irwin.
