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    Cincinnati Bengals Training Camp Day 2 Practice Report: Ja’Marr Chase Puts Zac Taylor in Tough Spot

    Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase isn't doing head coach Zac Taylor any favors by holding out without saying he's holding out.

    CINCINNATI – Of all the positions on a football team, the most difficult one might be the one Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor is trying to play these days.

    Taylor is trying to deflect the attention/consternation/questions directed at wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who sat out for a second consecutive practice today after not participating in OTAs or minicamp as he waits for a new contract.

    In his news conference before the first practice of camp on Wednesday, Taylor said he had a plan that would feature Chase not doing much on the first day and Tee Higgins not doing much on the second day — although Higgins did participate in a few drills.

    Young Wide Receiver Shines on Day 2 of Bengals Camp

    But Chase hasn’t done anything either day, and it doesn’t sound as though he will on Friday either. And there’s no reason to have confidence it won’t stretch longer.

    That left Taylor in the unenviable position of having to hold an unscheduled media session after Thursday’s practice, following long sessions on Wednesday and Monday.

    “We’ve got a bunch of guys, like I told you guys yesterday, that we’ve got a plan for early in camp,” Taylor said. “Tee being that guy today also, with Ja’Marr, Trey Hendrickson. Tomorrow Joe Burrow won’t throw. That was pre-planned. There’s a lot of guys that they and I are on the same with how we want to handle things.”

    Giving key veterans occasional days off is a smart plan, especially someone as valuable as Burrow, who is in the homestretch of finishing his rehab following wrist surgery.

    But there is no plan that involves resting a healthy star two days in a row to start camp. Everyone knows that, but Chase is forcing Taylor to try to sell the idea.

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    The receiver left his coach twisting tighter when he declined to talk after practice.

    Chase is eligible for a new deal, but he’s under contract for two more years, with his 2025 salary being a guaranteed $21.8 million.

    At this point, there is no reason to believe his refusal to practice will drag into the regular season. But with every practice that comes and goes, Chase is putting Taylor in a tougher spot.

    If/when Chase misses practice on Friday, there are no verbal gymnastics Taylor can pull off to sell the idea it’s part of a plan.

    Injury Report

    Cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt missed his second consecutive practice as he recovers from tonsil surgery, while the rehab field featured the same four players from Wednesday – rookie tight end Erick All (knee), and offensive tackle Trent Brown (tightness) are on the Non-Football Injury list, while cornerback DJ Ivey (knee), and defensive tackle Devonnsha Maxwell (knee) are on the Physically Unable to Perform list.

    Defensive end Trey Hendrickson and wide receiver Tee Higgins had veteran days off.

    Quarterback Report

    Joe Burrow continued to look relaxed, sharp, and accurate in a performance that featured his biggest “wow” throw since returning from his wrist injury in May.

    It came on his final throw in the first 11-on-11 period when he hit Shedrick Jackson on a deep ball up the left sideline despite tight coverage from Dax Hill.

    The completion put Burrow at 6-for-6 in the period. He went 4-for-4 in the second period to finish the day 10-for-10.

    As great as Burrow’s deep shot to Jackson was, it might rank as just the second-best throw of the practice.

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    In a 2 offense vs. 1 defense period, Jake Browning zipped a hole shot to Jermaine Burton, splitting Hill and safety Geno Stone on his first throw.

    Browning had a rough day Wednesday, but he bounced back with a solid performance.

    His next pass, a screen attempt, was batted down by B.J. Hill, but that was his only incompletion of the day as he finished 5-for-6.

    Stock Up

    • Shedrick Jackson continues to take advantage of Ja’Marr Chase’s absence. In addition to the deep ball, Jackson caught a few other passes from Burrow and third-string quarterback Logan Woodside. The fact that Jackson is getting first-team reps is significant enough. That Burrow trusts him enough to repeatedly target him is even bigger.
    • Joseph Ossai got first-team reps opposite Sam Hubbard, with Trey Hendrickson taking the day off. It doesn’t mean he’s flown past Myles Murphy on the depth chart, but it was a notable Day 2 promotion for Ossai, who ran mostly with the third team Wednesday as Murphy and Cam Sample played defensive end with the second team.
    • The ability to man cover is ultimately going to determine whether Dax Hill beats out DJ Turner for the starting cornerback job, but the 2022 first-round pick made two impressive plays at the line of scrimmage today.Hill got to Chris Evans for a tackle for loss when the 2 offense was facing the 1 defense. Later, Hill stopped Jackson for a TFL on a screen pass.

    Stock Down

    • Rookie third-round pick Jermaine Burton is going to play a big role in the offense this year, but it’s never good to put the ball on the ground — even if it was punched out from behind by Jordan Battle, and even if it might have come near the echo of the whistle.
    • While Taylor’s verbal dexterity was on display after practice, his physical footwork left a little to be desired late in the last 11-on-11 period. Taylor got a little too close to the action, and Burrow scrambled to the right, away from pressure, and nearly ran over his coach.

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