CINCINNATI — Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase met with the media on Tuesday following a team OTA session and revealed his stalled contract negotiation was a distraction entering Week 1 last season.
Chase caught just 10 passes for 97 yards in the Bengals 0-2 start to the season. He's since signed a new contract as the NFL's highest-paid non-quarterback, leaving the door open for a seamless 2025 on-ramp.
"I could say I wasn't mentally ready to be on the field," Chase said about last season. "I was in my own head. You know what I'm saying? I wanted to play, but I was in my own head."
The Bengals are 7-14-1 in the Zac Taylor era across September. More playing time for starters like Chase in the preseason seems necessary, even if Chase isn't a huge fan of the idea.
Whatever it takes to not need a miracle run in December to save the season. Chase went on to notch 17 touchdowns and nearly 14 yards per catch over the ensuing 15 games.
"If it was up to me, no of course not," Chase said about being out there for extended preseason snaps. "We are out there for a series but that's all we do. You don't feel mentally ready for a game like that, at least I don't. I won't speak for everyone else."
Preseason games or not, the league's top receiver last season could start much faster than he did in 2024.
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