Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase denied a rumor that he was negotiating to get paid one cent more than former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson's record-setting extension with the Minnesota Vikings while addressing reporters on Friday (September 6) for the first time since last season.
"If I want to beat Justin, I'm going to beat the s**t out of Justin. Not by a penny, brother," Chase said in response to WCPO's Marshall Kramsky.
Chase, 24, also told reporters that he believes he and the Bengals were "pretty close" to reaching an agreement on a long-term extension, but is willing to play in the team's Week 1 game against the New England Patriots if a deal isn't reached by Sunday (September 8), despite being listed as questionable (non-injury rest).
“It’s a small chance, but who knows what’ll happen in these next couple hours," Chase said via the Cincinnati Enquirer's Kelsey Conway.
Jefferson, 25, and the Vikings agreed to a four-year, $140 million contract extension, which includes $110 million guaranteed, which made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported at the time. Chase, who was selected by the Bengals at No. 5 in the 2021 NFL Draft, had 100 receptions for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023, having recorded more than 1,000 receiving yards during each of his first three seasons.