The Cincinnati Bengals may face a challenge in their season opener against the New England Patriots without their top two wide receivers, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Chase, who has been limited in preseason due to contract negotiations, remains questionable for the game. Despite participating fully in practice on Friday, he is still in talks with the team regarding a potential contract extension.

On the other hand, Higgins is also listed as questionable due to a hamstring injury. With two years left on his current contract, Chase aims to secure a lucrative deal to rank among the top-paid wide receivers in the NFL. The final decision on his availability for Sunday’s game rests with him, according to Coach Zac Taylor, who described the situation as day-to-day.

Following the recent big contracts for wide receivers like Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb, Chase hopes for a significant pay raise. In the event that both Chase and Higgins are sidelined, the Bengals will need to rely on alternative options such as Andrei Iosivas, Charlie Jones, Trenton Irwin, and rookie Jermaine Burton, among others.