CINCINNATI — Bengali wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase returned to training on Wednesday ahead of a possible return to the field on Sunday against Tennessee Giants.
Chase trained for the first time since a hip injury forced the open to miss three games. Chase participated in drills in practice open to the media, catching many passes from the quarterback Joe Burrow.
Burrow said Chase ran on Tuesday and is on track to compete this weekend.
“We expect him to play,” Burrow said. “I know he ran yesterday and he feels good. So we’ll see how things go for the rest of the week.”
Chase hasn’t played since the Bengals ‘Week 7 won first Atlanta Falcon, when he had eight catches from 130 yards and two touches. At the time, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Chase could be out for four to six weeks. Sunday will mark five weeks since Chase last played.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor is a bit more secretive than his quarterback about Chase’s prognosis. Taylor said he hasn’t watched Chase practice since the injury and described his readiness as day in and day out.
However, Taylor admitted that Chase’s recovery went well.
“He did all the things we asked him to do,” Taylor said Wednesday. “He’s done really well with the coaches there. Everything has been positive so far.”
Burrow repeated that Chase has worked hard to get back on the field and rest as needed for the Cincinnati playoffs. Team Bengal (6-4) will face group leaders AFC South Titans (7-3) on Sunday at the start of a seven-match final series that includes five opponents above them in the AFC standings.
According to Burrow, Chase participated in a number of team meetings while trying to balance his rehab work, maintaining cohesion and “exactly the kind of teammate you’d expect.”
If Chase returns this weekend, he’ll be in for a game against the Bengals that has turned out to be one of the league’s best. Cincinnati ranks third in the NFL in points per drive and third in strike points per game.
“I knew as soon as he was ready to leave, he would be back, ready to play and keep playing,” Burrow said.
