Ja’Marr Chase was back at Cincinnati Bengals practice on Wednesday for an important workout ahead of Sunday’s season opener against the New England Patriots.

His presence at practice has raised hopes in Cincinnati that he will be able to play in Sunday’s game.

Chase was involved in a hold-in throughout the preseason due to a contract dispute. He showed up at team facilities and preseason games but largely refused to participate in team practices and activities.

Wednesday practices before Sunday games are typically when game plans are drawn up in the NFL, and an absence would have seriously jeopardized Chase’s status for Sunday. Head coach Zac Taylor was unsure before practice began whether Chase would participate or not.

“We’ll see,” Taylor told reporters.

Then Chase appeared on the training grounds in full gear.

He was seen running routes and catching passes during team drills.

Chase participated in a full Bengals practice on Aug. 25 for the first time since the Bengals’ training camp began on July 24. He had reportedly only participated in occasional practices before that, and his presence at the facilities has allowed him to avoid a fine as he sought to gain leverage in his contract dispute.

What Chase wants

Chase is seeking an extension on his rookie contract as the contract landscape for NFL wide receivers changes. The market changed this offseason, and many of the league’s top receivers signed lucrative deals.

Justin Jefferson and the Minnesota Vikings redefined the market with a four-year, $140 million contract that includes $110 million in guarantees. The deal is the most lucrative for a non-quarterback in NFL history. Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions) and AJ Brown (Philadelphia Eagles) each signed contracts worth more than $30 million per year.

Those deals led in part to disputes with other top receivers, including CeeDee Lamb and Brandon Aiyuk, who did not attend training camp in search of new contracts. Both have since signed new deals. Lamb agreed to a four-year, $136 million deal with the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 26, and Aiyuk agreed to a four-year, $120 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers last week – both in time to prepare and settle into the regular season.

Chase’s contract situation, meanwhile, is uncertain as the regular season approaches. Chase is entering the fourth season of his four-year, $30.8 million rookie contract. He is due $21.8 million in 2025, according to a fifth-year option exercised by the Bengals. He has not publicly commented on his contract demands, but is believed to be seeking a deal that matches Jefferson’s annual value of $35 million.

Chase has been one of the league’s best receivers since his first appearance as a rookie in 2021. He was named All-Pro and Rookie of the Year in his first season and was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his three NFL seasons.

Chase played a key role in Cincinnati’s rise in the league by catching passes from college teammate Joe Burrow. The Bengals made it to the Super Bowl in his rookie season and the AFC Championship a year later.