Do recent Ja'Marr Chase comments suggest minicamp attendance?

Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase has not attended the Bengals OTAs as he's hoping to receive a contract extension heading into the final year of his rookie deal.

However, the three-time Pro Bowler's holdout seems like it could be nearing its end.

On Monday, the Minnesota Vikings made wide receiver Justin Jefferson the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL, signing him to a four-year, $140 million extension.

Chase said earlier this offseason that he wanted to wait for his former LSU teammate to sign a new deal before signing one of his own. He was asked if Jefferson getting a deal done is a prerequisite for signing an extension.

His response: "Hell yeah."

Now that that has happened, Chase is one step closer to getting back on the field with the rest of his teammates, which is something he's been preparing for all offseason.

Chase said he's been working to make sure his "body is right" after dealing with a couple of injuries last season. He says he now feels "100 percent."

"Working on the stuff I want to work on so I know what I want to do when I get back," Chase said, via the team's website. "I try to run at least five routes and just play catch. Just get a feel for the ball, getting used to hitting it in my hands, getting comfortable."

Cincinnati's mandatory minicamp begins June 11, and while Chase could decide to not show up for that either, it would be surprising if he chose not to given his recent comments.

The question will be how much work he does during those practices if he is still without a new deal, but things always seem to get settled a little easier when all parties are in the building together.

Chase has registered 268 catches for 3,717 yards and 29 touchdowns since entering the league at the No. 5 overall pick in 2021.