Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase not training, status remains unclear

CINCINNATI – The availability of Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase remains uncertain less than a week before the start of the season.

Coach Zac Taylor said Chase is taking it day-to-day as he continues to not practice while awaiting the status of a contract extension. Monday was the team's last practice before game week officially begins.

Taylor said precautions are being taken to accommodate the volatile situation surrounding the three-time Pro Bowler.

“There are always injuries and things to deal with, so we'll adapt to him,” Taylor said.

Chase's participation in Monday's portion of practice that was open to the media was higher than in recent days. He spent the 15-minute period standing with the receivers during stretches and catching balls to help assistant coaches Troy Walters and Fredi Knighten.

Taylor declined to speculate on how much Chase might play Sunday due to a lack of practice reps, but the sixth-year coach expressed his confidence.

“I can't say with 100 percent certainty, but I have a good feeling about the condition he's in,” Taylor said.

In other news Monday, Taylor said cornerback Dax Hill and right tackle Trent Brown will start Sunday against the New England Patriots.

Hill, who was the team's free safety last season, took over from incumbent starter DJ Turner. Brown starts ahead of rookie Amarius Mims, the team's first-round pick who is recovering from a pectoral muscle injury suffered early in the preseason.

Taylor said it would be a hindrance for Mims to start since he didn't practice on Monday, but the coach added that he felt comfortable with Brown taking the lead. The eighth-year veteran signed a one-year deal with the Bengals and will face his former team.

“He's a professional,” Taylor said of Brown, who spent the last three years with the Patriots. “He's taken really good care of himself this training camp. I'm excited to watch him work.”