Ja'Marr Chase misses the start of Bengals practice Wednesday

Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase was not on the field for the open portion of Wednesday's practice as Cincinnati began preparing for Tennessee. ESPN's Ben Baby and The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. both said Chase was not present during the roughly 30 minutes open to media, and RotoWire noted he missed the stretch period.

What is confirmed: Chase was not seen at the start of practice Wednesday, while Joe Burrow went through his early throwing session. What is not known yet: the reason. The team had not given an explanation as of early Wednesday afternoon, and Dehner called the absence unexpected and said he was looking for more information.

There are two very different ways this can go. A veteran rest day or a personal matter early in the week usually means nothing for Sunday. A new injury would change the picture, especially for a receiver who already dealt with a concussion earlier this season. Chase was listed questionable with that concussion before Week 5, then played full snap counts on both sides of the Bengals' Week 6 bye, catching 11 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns on 17 targets across those games.

For RSO managers, Chase is one of the biggest contracts on most rosters, and he is on a four-year, $161 million deal with the Bengals signed in March 2025. A one-day absence is not a reason to bench him or shop him. It is a reason to have a backup plan ready before your lineup locks.

What to do now: hold Chase in your lineup plans, but check which of your bench receivers could start if he trends toward missing time. If you also roster Tee Higgins or other Bengals pass catchers, their weekly value would rise if Chase sits. Do not make a trade offer or a cut based on Wednesday alone.

What to watch next: the Bengals' official Wednesday injury report, which will show whether Chase is listed with an injury, as a non-injury rest day or for a personal reason. After that, his participation Thursday and Friday matters most. A full practice by Friday with no game designation puts this to bed. A second straight missed day or a questionable tag would make this a real lineup decision for the week.