Morning Sports Update
“I think I probably put my foot in my mouth speaking too quickly.”
An update on Ja’Marr Chase: The Patriots will face the Bengals in Cincinnati in Week 1 on Sept. 8, though it remains to be seen if talented wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase will be lining up on the opposing sideline.
Chase, 24, has been a Pro Bowl receiver for each of the three seasons of his NFL career to this point. He is a central component of the Bengals’ offense, and is the primary target for quarterback Joe Burrow.
Yet Chase is currently seeking a new contract, and did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday, though he was seen at the team’s facility in street clothes.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, who had said earlier in the week that he was confident Chase would suit up for Week 1 against the Patriots, backtracked on Wednesday.
“I think I probably put my foot in my mouth speaking too quickly,” Taylor told reporters. “Again, this is a day-to-day situation. We’ll just keep seeing it as that.”
Chase has two years remaining on his rookie deal, which includes a $21.8 million fifth-year option in 2025.
“We’ll keep working through it,” Taylor said. “Not going to make predictions on what tomorrow brings.”
The Cincinnati coach noted that Chase could still end up playing even without practicing, but Taylor’s changing stance reflects the fluidity of the situation.
Chase also isn’t the only Bengals wideout seeking a new contract. Cincinnati’s other starting receiver, Tee Higgins, is playing this season on the team’s franchise tag after the two sides failed to agree on a longer-term deal. Higgins reportedly sought a trade in the offseason, but eventually signed the franchise tender.
Scores and schedules:
The Red Sox lost to the Blue Jays 2-0 on Thursday. The highlight from a Boston standpoint may have been 44-year-old Rich Hill pitching a scoreless 1.1 innings in relief, officially clinching his 20th season in a row in the major leagues.
The two teams play again tonight at Fenway Park at 7:10 p.m.
Tomorrow, the Revolution will be in Utah to play Real Salt Lake at 9:30 p.m.
More from Boston.com:
A view into a Patriots photographer’s story: As part of the “Do Your Job” series, the team featured the story of photographer David Silverman.
On this day: In 1916, Red Sox pitcher Dutch Leonard threw a no-hitter in a 4-0 win over the St. Louis Browns. Leonard yielded just two walks, and also went 1-for-2 at the plate with an RBI to help his own cause.
Daily highlight: Here’s an absolutely outrageous catch from Colorado’s Travis Hunter.
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