Bengals work through injuries at Paycor as Ja’Marr Chase remains in concussion protocol

Cincinnati Bengals personnel spent Thursday working through a cluster of health questions, with Ja’Marr Chase the most prominent name on the injury-desks checklist heading into the next phase of preparations. Bengals beat notes from Paycor Stadium described Chase as having emerged from the locker room, but not having passed concussion protocol at the time of the update, leaving his availability uncertain.

The same set of Bengals “Quick Hits” notes placed emphasis on the broader day-to-day management of injuries rather than any single dramatic turn. Tee Higgins and Joe Burrow were also referenced in the segment, underscoring that the Bengals were monitoring multiple players as the week moved forward.

The timing matters because concussion protocol does not follow a single, predictable path. Even when a player is seen on the field or around team activities, clearance has to come through the league’s step-by-step process, and the Bengals’ report made clear that Chase had not reached that stage at the moment the notes were published.

Cincinnati’s preparation week also carried matchup themes built around Miami. The quick-hit format touched on what the Bengals labeled as “(Jordan) Battle Of Miami,” a reference to safety Jordan Battle and the opponent context, suggesting the team’s defensive emphasis would account for how Miami’s offense tries to attack matchups and create separation.

In that sense, Thursday’s report functioned more as a checkpoint than a resolution. It pointed to the Bengals’ internal status review, with the most meaningful immediate takeaway being that Chase, one of the team’s key offensive weapons, was not cleared from concussion protocol even though he was able to reappear after being treated.

Peter King was included in the notes package, reflecting how Bengals beat and national observers are tracking the team’s health picture alongside the usual week-to-week NFL storylines. Still, the practical day-to-day focus for Cincinnati remains straightforward: determine who can practice and, beyond that, who can meet the protocol requirements to be active on game day.

For fans, the next thing to watch is whether the Bengals can move Chase through the later steps of protocol without interruption. If he continues to progress, Cincinnati’s passing-game planning would likely stabilize faster. If he does not, the Bengals may need to adjust their receiving and tempo plans to match the available skill personnel.

For Miami, the Bengals’ uncertainty could shape how both sides approach workload and preparation. Cincinnati typically wants its top playmakers involved in timing-heavy reps, and when that is delayed, play-calling tends to adjust toward what the offense can execute consistently with the players cleared to participate.