Cincinnati Bengals rookie finds a positive in Ja'Marr Chase not practicing in training camp

The apparent " hold-in " wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase is conducting is the biggest story to come out of Cincinnati Bengals training camp thus far. Chase is eligible for a new contract, and the three-time Pro Bowler isn't putting his body at risk to send a message.

Chase still being present for practice allows him to stay a part of the team and communicate with his teammates. He's almost like another coach on the sidelines.

That's how rookie wideout Jermaine Burton sees Chase's current situation as a positive.

Burton, Cincinnati's third-round pick from this year's NFL Draft, has been getting ample reps in his first offseason with Chase not participating and Tee Higgins getting rest every so often as well.

Coaches provide coaching between reps, but so can the players who set the standard on the field. Burton says Chase hasn't shied away from giving him tips during practice, which he's able to do while watching instead of practicing alongside him every day.

"It's kind of been a good thing that Ja'Marr has also been able to sit out and watch me more," Burton told FOX19's Jeremy Rauch. "Because I feel like if he was practicing, he probably wouldn't see everything, all my flaws, or anything that he wants to correct. But I feel like as of right now, he could watch every rep, and he can come to me after every rep. Sometimes he does. After every other rep, he'll come to me and say, Hey, this and this and that. So it's pretty dope."

The relationship Chase and Burton share goes way back to before they became teammates. Chase hosted Burton when the then 18-year recruit visited LSU during the 2019 college football season, which of course ended in the Tigers winning the College Football Playoff.

Five years later, Chase is still finding ways to help Burton.

Training camp injuries are usually the vehicle for young players to receive needed reps in place of established starters. In this case, Chase isn't recovering or getting back to football shape, but his course of action still allows for players like Burton to hone their craft before the bullets start flying for real.

They'll be on the field together in time. By then, Burton and his already elite traits may be further along thanks to the instant coaching he's getting from Uno.