Chase: Held myself out vs. Titans as precaution

CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati Bengals prima wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase revealed that helium didn't play past play against the Tennessee Titans for precautionary reasons.

In his archetypal nationalist comments since suffering a hep injury, Chase said helium told Bengals manager Zac Taylor helium did not privation to play successful past Sunday's triumph astatine Tennessee due to the fact that helium didn't consciousness comfy returning from the wounded that early.

"I wanted to springiness myself different week of mentation for the adjacent crippled if I had a accidental to," Chase said Wednesday.

Chase said helium feels large and has nary symptom arsenic the Bengals commencement practicing for their upcoming showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs successful a rematch of past season's AFC Championship Game.

Chase besides revealed the specifics of the wounded helium suffered successful October, saying helium hyperextended his close limb connected a touchdown during Cincinnati's Week 6 triumph astatine New Orleans. He played the remainder of the contest, including the game-winning, 60-yard touchdown successful the Bengals' 30-26 victory.

The pursuing Wednesday, Chase said helium told the Bengals' grooming unit helium had occupation moving. He felt amended by the extremity of the week and played successful Cincinnati's Week 7 triumph implicit the Atlanta Falcons, erstwhile helium he appeared to reaggravate the wounded close earlier halftime. He finished that crippled arsenic good and posted 8 catches for 130 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Afterwards, Chase sought different consultation and said helium was diagnosed with a hairline hep fracture.

"That's what I got the 2nd sentiment for -- that nonstop crushed from the Falcon game," Chase said.

Chase has missed 4 games due to the fact that of the wounded and said helium is expected to person a airy signifier workload for the 2nd consecutive week. He was constricted successful each 1 of Cincinnati's Week 12 practices up of the crippled against the Titans.

Chase said his vocation outlook was a superior crushed helium decided to hold an other week to return.

"I didn't cognize if that was excessively early, excessively fast, truthful I conscionable told (Taylor) I privation to interest astir long-term," said Chase, adding that the unit and trainers were connected the aforesaid leafage with Chase astir handling everything appropriately.

In his archetypal NFL season, Chase acceptable the Bengals' franchise grounds for receiving yards successful a azygous crippled (266) and a azygous play (1,455) -- conscionable 2 of the accolades that volition beryllium connected his resume erstwhile helium is eligible for a declaration hold successful 2024.

Taylor said it was hard to foretell if Chase was going to beryllium a afloat subordinate for immoderate signifier passim the week.

"We'll bash our champion to marque definite he's comfy and we're comfortable," Taylor said.