Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase will play Sunday against the Tennessee Titans after dealing with an ankle issue that limited his availability earlier in the week.
Head coach Zac Taylor confirmed Friday that Chase is good to go for the matchup at Paycor Stadium. The news ends any lingering questions about the star receiver’s status after he sat out Wednesday’s practice.
Chase was listed with both rest and an ankle injury on the Wednesday report. The rest designation suggested the issue was minor and that he was expected to be available once the week progressed.
He returned for a full practice session Thursday and participated without limitations again Friday. The sequence allowed the Bengals to clear him for the game without further restrictions.
Chase has recorded 32 receptions for 351 yards and five touchdowns through six games this season. Those numbers come on 45 targets, giving him a catch rate just over 71 percent and an average of 11.0 yards per reception.
The yardage total averages 58.5 yards per game, which stands as a career low for the sixth-year receiver. He has still found the end zone regularly, ranking among the league leaders in receiving touchdowns.
In the Bengals’ most recent game, a 35-13 road win over the Baltimore Ravens, Chase caught five of seven targets for 62 yards and a touchdown. He played through the ankle discomfort in that contest.
The Bengals enter the Week 8 game at 4-2 and sit in third place in the AFC North. They are coming off a strong second-half performance that produced 35 unanswered points against the Ravens.
The Titans arrive at 1-6 after a 27-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns last week. Tennessee has struggled to generate consistent offense while dealing with injuries of its own on both sides of the ball.
Safety Kyle Dugger has been ruled out for Cincinnati with a quadriceps injury. Linebacker Joe Giles-Harris is listed as questionable because of a calf issue and will be monitored through the final pregame checks.
Chase’s availability gives quarterback Joe Burrow a reliable option against a Titans defense that has allowed significant yardage in recent weeks. Burrow has thrown for 1,653 yards and 15 touchdowns with only three interceptions so far this season.
Pro Football Focus graded Chase at 83.1 overall through the first six games, ranking him 12th among qualified wide receivers. The grade reflects solid efficiency despite the reduced yardage totals.
The Bengals are favored by more than 10 points in the betting market for Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoff on CBS. A healthy Chase improves their chances of controlling the tempo at home.
The team will look to build on its current two-game winning streak while managing other roster limitations at tight end and in the secondary. Chase’s return keeps the primary passing attack intact for the stretch run.
His production in the red zone has been a key factor in the Bengals’ early success. Five touchdowns in six games continue a trend of high-end scoring efficiency even when the overall yardage has not reached previous career levels.
