Cincinnati Bengals Injury Report: Healthy Ja’Marr Chase Sits Again As Team Holds Bonus Practice

CINCINNATI, OH — The Cincinnati Bengals held a “bonus” practice today to kick off their Week 1 preparation for Sunday’s season opener against the New England Patriots.

One difference in today’s session is that the team is not required to issue an official injury report. The first one of those will come Wednesday.

But here is what we saw during the 30 minutes the media were allowed to watch, beginning with the player who has had everyone’s focus for weeks.

Bengals First-Round Pick Amarius Mims Practices

Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase was not practicing yet again, missing his third consecutive session since taking part in a couple of light workouts that were closed to the media last week.

Chase arrived late to the Wednesday and Thursday practices last week, but he was present for the start of the team stretch today. However, Cincinnati held a closed walk-through prior to practice, so it’s unclear what time Chase arrived.

While the clock is clicking toward the deadline for Chase to sign an extension, it’s also counting down to the point where one could question whether the receiver could play a full snap load Sunday.

Quarterback Joe Burrow said earlier in camp that all Chase would need is “one practice” to be ready to play.

But the difference between being in shape and in football shape is considerably different.

The Bengals will have full practices on Wednesday and Thursday and a walk-through on Friday.

All other 52 players on the roster were present and in jerseys today, although first-round pick Amarius Mims was not hitting the sled during the offensive line drills.

Mims suffered a pectoral injury in the preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Aug. 10, and head coach Zac Taylor said at the time he would be out “several weeks.”

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The Bengals did not place Mims on Injured Reserve, meaning they expect him to be ready well before the four-game mandatory absence.

But it’s looking more likely that Trent Brown will be the starting right tackle against New England.

The other player to watch Wednesday on the first official injury report will be defensive end Sam Hubbard, who missed almost all of training camp with a knee injury and has eased back into practice with an eye on the season opener.

If he’s a full participant Wednesday, he should be good to go for Sunday. But if the Bengals list him as limited, his status could be up in the air.