The Cincinnati Bengals are breathing a huge sigh of relief after it emerged that a potential injury sustained by star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase during training camp was not serious
Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals smiles with Ja'Marr Chase
Ja'Marr Chase, pictured here with Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, avoided a serious injury in practice(Image: Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
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Cincinnati Bengals star Ja'Marr Chase has avoided suffering a major injury during training camp, leaving the team to breathe a sigh of relief.
The 2026 NFL season continues to draw closer and closer, with the major headlines of late being dominated by the fallout of the arrest of San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York. Last season, the Bengals endured a frustrating year, going 6-11 and missing the postseason for the third consecutive season.
If the Bengals want to have any hopes of making it back to the postseason this year, they will need Chase to be at his best. And thankfully for Cincinnati, they managed to avoid what would have been a significant blow after it was confirmed their star receiver did not sustain a serious injury after leaving the field during training camp.
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On Tuesday, Chase hobbled off the field during practice when he landed awkwardly after going up to catch a pass from quarterback Joe Burrow.
Posting on X, The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. wrote, "Ja’Marr Chase landed awkwardly on a deep ball from Joe Burrow. He came down holding his lower leg at first then walked gingerly down the sideline. Currently being worked on by a trainer."
A video attached to the post from Dehner showed hobbling while walking alongside the Bengals' training staff.
Thankfully for Cincinnati, Chase later revealed he was fine, telling reporters he had suffered a slight "hyperextension" and that he could have kept going during practice if needed.
"Just a football play, mistepped, missed my footing, and just a little tweak, but I'm fine. Feel good," Chase said. "I tried [to go back in], but they told me no."
For a Cincinnati side that has missed the postseason the last three years, keeping Chase healthy this year will be paramount to the Bengals if they want to have any success in 2026.
Since entering the league, the 26-year-old has been one of the best, if not the best, receivers in the NFL, with Chase posting a 1,455-yard, 13-touchdown season during his rookie year in 2021.
His sophomore season, which was hindered slightly by injuries, saw him put up 1,046 yards in just 12 games in 2022.
And since then, Chase has registered a season with fewer than 1,200 yards receiving in the following three years.
In 2024, he led the league in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708), and touchdowns (17), while last season, he put up huge numbers once again, despite an injury to Burrow, which saw him feature in just eight games for Cincinnati in 2025,
In a league that is so quarterback-dependent, having a receiver that is quarterback-proof, in that his production does not get impacted by who is throwing him the ball, is a huge bonus for the Bengals, who will need Chase to be at his best if they want to make the postseason again.