Bengals’ Chase ends contract ‘hold-in’
Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase ended his ‘‘hold-in’’ and practiced for the first time this summer Sunday, two weeks before the team opens the regular season Sept. 8 against the Patriots.
The Bengals sent out photos from the closed practice on social media that showed Chase participating in the session.
Chase had been watching most practices but not participating as he seeks a long-term contract extension. He is in the fourth year of his rookie contract, and the Bengals already have exercised their fully guaranteed $21.8 million fifth-year option for 2025.
But Chase is seeking to become the latest receiver to cash in with a megadeal. Ten receivers have signed contracts worth at least $70 million this offseason, with Justin Jefferson’s four-year, $140 million extension with the Vikings setting the top of the market.
Chase, the No. 5 pick of the 2021 draft, has made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons and was a second-team All-Pro as a rookie. He has 268 catches for 3,717 yards and 29 touchdowns, ranking among the top seven of all time in all three categories for a receiver in his first three seasons.
Rams give LB Jones OK to seek trade
Multiple outlets reported the Rams have given linebacker Ernest Jones permission to seek a trade amid an impasse on a contract extension. Jones, a defensive captain, is entering the final year of his rookie contract.
Jones became a mainstay of the Rams’ defense two seasons ago, playing alongside Bobby Wagner for a year before taking over as the linchpin in the middle of the lineup last season. He led the Rams with 145 tackles in 2023 — 51 more than safety Jordan Fuller in second place — and had 4oe sacks as a blitzing linebacker.
The Rams have put little value on the inside linebacker positions in recent seasons, frequently suiting up fringe players with cost-effective salaries at the spot. The exception was their brief dalliance with Wagner, who played only one season of a five-year, $50 million deal in 2022 before the Rams dropped him.
Dolphins cut backup QB White
The Dolphins cut quarterback Mike White, leaving Skylar Thompson as starter Tua Tagovailoa’s likely backup for the 2024 season.
White backed up Tagovailoa last season after signing a two-year contract with the Dolphins as a free agent in 2023. He appeared in six games, with 74 yards passing, one touchdown and one interception.
White and Thompson split reps throughout the preseason as they competed for the No. 2 spot. White completed 20 of 43 passes for 179 yards with no touchdowns; Thompson was 35-for-61 for 346 yards with three touchdowns and an interception.
Thompson appeared to secure the backup spot when he came in and directed two touchdown drives in the Dolphins’ loss to the Buccaneers in their preseason finale.
Ravens OL coach D’Alessandris dies
The Ravens announced offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris died. He was 70.
D’Alessandris, who had been with the Ravens since 2017, was hospitalized this month with an unspecified illness that caused him to step away from his duties. Coach John Harbaugh said at the time that D’Alessandris was having complications from surgery.
‘‘Coach ‘Joe D’ was a man of integrity and a man of faith,’’ Harbaugh said. ‘‘He made us all better. He was loved by all here. He was a great coach and a good man — the kind of person who you are honored to have as a friend . . . . I admired him, loved him and am going to miss him because ‘Joe D’ was a joy.’’