Cincinnati Bengals Superstar Set to Play Week 1 Despite Hold-In Through Camp

Cincinnati Bengals head coach answered questions from the local media on Tuesday in the wake of the cut-down to 53 and about half of the questions pertained to the status of stud wide-out, Ja'Marr Chase .

One of those questions was direct:

"Are you confident [Ja'Marr Chase] will play Week 1?"

"Yes"

Taylor's questions started off by keeping the "yes" answer at arm's length. One reporter asked if he and Chase had had conversations about what was to come with the season and Taylor answered that he and Chase talk all the time.

In his time in Cincinnati, Taylor has mastered coachspeak, but he gave a straightforward answer toward the end.

Ja'Marr Chase will play for the Cincinnati Bengals from the jump.

Chase has been practicing this week and, if contract negotiations weren't at the center , it would just look like he was protecting himself from potential injury.

With the news of the CeeDee Lamb contract extension, the previously reported, rumored goal of four years and $160 million with $120 million guaranteed looks lofty. Lamb's deal slotted in under Justin Jefferson 's four years, $140 million with $110 million guaranteed, which Chase is hoping to beat.

Chase is one of the top receivers in the NFL and the Bengals' offense is completely different with and without him on the field. And Taylor knows that.

This was likely the plan all along. Obviously, Chase wouldn't let the Bengals in on these plans because it would hamstring anything he was trying to do in negotiations. However, with each passing extension, Chase's price only gets higher and higher.

The Bengals should really pay him as soon as possible. They don't want to play chicken with Chase when next year's free agents and the 2022 draft class are eligible for extensions and new contracts.