Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase could be risking financial penalties from the team if he chooses to miss the start of the regular season, according to former NFL agent Joel Corry. In training camp, both Chase and fellow wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk have requested hold-ins, raising concerns about their availability for Week 1.

Corry explained that if Chase decides not to play in the Bengals' opener against the Patriots, he could potentially lose $1,814,702. These penalties would be applied by the Bengals under the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), although they are relatively modest when considering his overall career earnings.

Continuing the hold-in after receiving a written warning could result in Chase being cited for a conduct detrimental to the team infraction, explained Corry. The maximum penalty for such conduct includes a fine of one week's salary and a suspension without pay for four weeks. In Chase's case, this would result in a loss of five weeks' worth of his $1.055 million salary, totaling $293,056.

Moreover, there's a risk to a portion of Chase's signing bonus as well as the $3,807,679 roster bonus. The Bengals have the option to enforce penalties under the CBA, allowing them to recoup a portion of these bonuses. Specifically, they would be entitled to recoup 4/18ths of Chase's $19,774,284 signing bonus attributed to 2024, amounting to $1,098,571. Additionally, the recoupment of the 2024 roster bonus, divided by two due to Chase's contract running through 2025, could mean a potential loss of $423,075.

Facing such costly financial consequences, the big question now is whether Chase is willing to risk losing nearly $2 million in order to exert pressure on the Bengals. If he chooses to sit out Week 1, he will need to play at some point during this season to ensure his contract tolls and carries into the fifth-year option in 2025.

As the regular season approaches, the Bengals must grapple with the uncertainty surrounding their star wide receiver. Will Chase hold firm or ultimately decide to heed the financial risks? Only time will tell, but this remains the team's most pressing question leading up to the start of the season.

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