All-Pro wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has yet to practice since suffering a knee injury in practice on Aug. 25, but head coach Zac Taylor isn't worried less than two weeks before the start of the regular season.
“(Ja’Marr) will be limited throughout the week, but I feel good about him,” Taylor said.
Following the practice when Chase hyperextended his knee, he told reporters he lost his footing and was fine.
“Just a football play,” Chase said. “Missed step, missed my footing, and just a little tweak, but I'm fine. If I had a game tomorrow, I would play.”
The Bengals held Chase out of practice on Aug. 26, and Taylor opted to rest his starters – including Chase – in the final preseason game on Aug. 28. Cincinnati resumed practice following the announcement
of the 53-man roster on Aug. 30.
Realistically, the Bengals don’t need Chase back at practice until Sept. 7 when the team begins preparation for their first regular-season game on Sept. 13. They have the luxury right now of giving Chase as much rest as he needs.
Cincinnati will practice the next two days before three days off over Labor Day weekend.
Tee Higgins also is dealing with an injury and didn’t practice on Sept. 1. Taylor said Higgins has a “little heel contusion” that will limit him this week but expects him to be in good shape by the end of the week.
Cornerback Dax Hill made his return to the field this week after spending most of training camp on the sidelines with a lower body injury. Taylor will ease Hill back into practice, starting him with individual work. He’s someone who also benefits from the extra week of practice ahead of Week 1.
“We'll work him into some team drills this week and use these three days to get him back and ready to fully integrate him next week,” Taylor said.
Safety Bryan Cook has been able to practice for a week now. Taylor said he is “ready to roll” after nursing a hamstring injury during the preseason.
Lastly on the injury front for the Bengals, defensive end Shemar Stewart continues to work his way back into the fold. Taylor provided an update on Stewart and continues to reiterate that he’s making progress.“Shemar (will) stay on the rehab field this week, and we'll just take him week to week,” Taylor said.
Stewart hyperextended his knee on the first day of training camp practice on July 29 and hasn’t practiced since. He is now able to walk around without a brace and was seen running on the rehab field on Sept. 1.
He appears to be trending toward a return and that’s a positive sign for the Bengals and Stewart.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins not practicing, but Zac Taylor isn't worried
