Bengals QB Joe Burrow Chimes In on Ja’Marr Chase’s Contract Situation

CINCINNATI – Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow couldn’t throw to his favorite target, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, last summer in training camp because of his injured calf.

This year, he can’t throw to his top receiver because Chase is opting not to practice as he waits for a new contract.

After Thursday’s practice, Burrow said the time missed is no big deal because it won’t take long for the duo to re-establish their connection.

Bengals QB Joe Burrow Offering Ja’Marr Chase Contract Advice

Exactly how long?

“Couple practices,” Burrow said. “Once he’s out there, it’s one (individual) period and he’ll be ready to go.”

That said, it obviously would be better for all involved if Chase was on the field running routes alongside Tee Higgins and the rest of the receiving corps instead of chopping it up with Luke Combs in street clothes, as he was Thursday ahead of the country artist’s two concerts at Paycor Stadium this weekend.

.@lukecombs with the special guest appearance 👀 pic.twitter.com/8CG5oYZ6Pc

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 1, 2024

Last year, it was a Day 2 calf injury that shelved Burrow for several weeks and left him playing at far less than 100 percent for the first four games.

In 2022, an emergency appendectomy forced him to miss the first four weeks of camp.

In 2021, Burrow took an occasional day off as he recovered from ACL surgery, just as he’s taken a couple of lighter days this year as a precautionary measure with his recovery from wrist surgery.

This is the kind of camp he’s been waiting to have for years, and his best receiver and good friend is opting not to participate.

Does that make for an awkward situation?

“I wouldn’t say that,” Burrow said. “I went through (contract negotiations) last year, so I kind of have some insight into how these things kind of go. So we’ve been creating a dialogue and talking through certain things, obviously.

“His business is his business,” Burrow added. “But I’ve been able to give some insight into how my process was because I think it’s pretty similar.”

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Burrow was entering year four with a fifth year already guaranteed after the team picked up the option.

Now, Chase is the same position.

The Burrow contract came down to negotiating how much of the salary would be guaranteed.

Burrow’s comment that the situations are “pretty similar” suggests that guaranteed money could be a sticking point between the Bengals and Chase.

The Chase situation won’t become a problem unless he elects to sit out games, and there is no indication that will be the case.

Even if Chase opts to watch every practice until the calendar flips to September, Burrow’s assertion that it won’t take a long time for the two to get up to speed should offer some comfort to Bengals fans who are worried about Chase’s absence through the first seven – and counting – practices.