The Cincinnati Bengals and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase appear to have avoided a serious injury following an incident during practice on Tuesday. Chase injured his left knee while running a deep route and limped off the field. After the practice, he stated that he only experienced a slight hyperextension and does not anticipate being sidelined. "Just a football play. A misstep, missed my footing. Just a little tweak," Chase told reporters. "I’m fine. Feel good."
Chase's injury occurred during a practice drill, and he was seen limping off the field before collapsing on the sideline. However, he remained on the sideline instead of going to the locker room, and later provided an update that alleviated concerns about his condition. He mentioned to ESPN 1530 Cincinnati, "If I had a game tomorrow, I’d play. I was trying to go back in and practice."
Chase is a key player for the Bengals, who are led by quarterback Joe Burrow. He had a strong performance in the previous season, catching 125 passes for 1,412 yards and scoring eight touchdowns, which earned him first-team All-Pro honors for the second consecutive year. The Bengals are scheduled to begin their regular season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 13, providing Chase with nearly three weeks to recover. They will also play their final preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, where starters are expected to participate.