Cincinnati Bengals Practice and Injury Report: Encouraging Signs for Ja’Marr Chase’s Return

The Cincinnati Bengals aren’t ready to declare Ja’Marr Chase good to go for Sunday’s game at Kanas City, but today marked an encouraging first step for the team’s leading receiver.

Head coach Zac Taylor said Chase participated in today’s morning walkthrough, but they need to see what he looks like on the field. The same goes for cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt, whom the team cleared to return to practice today after missing the last four games with an ankle injury.

Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase Takes First Steps Toward Return to Action

“To see him doing some functional football stuff will be good,” Taylor said when asked specifically about Taylor-Britt. “He’s got a positive mindset (and) went through the walkthrough today. Everything was positive there, but we just got to see him on the field.”

“Same with Ja’Marr,” Taylor added. “Just see how the week progresses with him.”

Ja’Marr out here in cleats with a GPS tracker vest, but no jersey or helmet. Looks to be a rehab field day.

— Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) December 27, 2023

Taylor-Britt suffered an ankle sprain in practice Dec. 1 and remains on injured reserve, although he can be activated to the 53-man roster at any time after missing four games. Taylor-Britt was participating in practice during the viewing period open to the media.

MORE: Cincinnati Bengals Depth Chart

But Chase, who suffered a right shoulder injury in the Dec. 16 win against the Vikings, was not.

Chase came out to practice wearing cleats and a GPS-tracker vest, but he did not have a helmet or jersey. After going through stretchs with his teammates, Chase went to the rehab field and began catching short passes from director of rehab Nick Cosgray.

To avoid stressing the shoulder injury, Chase was throwing left-handed wobblers back to Cosgray.

The team will release the injury report around 4:30, and we’ll see how they list Taylor-Britt, whether he was a full participant or limited. Depending on how Chase comes through today’s workouts, he could make his return to practice Thursday.

The other 52 players on the active roster were present and participating today.

Update 4:30 p.m.

The Bengals listed Chase as a non-participant while Taylor-Britt went full.

Defensive end Cam Sample (knee) and cornerback Jalen Davis (groin) were limited. Sample was limited in the first practice last week with the knee issue, but went full in the final two practices and played against the Steelers.

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