Ja’Marr Chase avoids going to injured reserve with hip injury

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase won’t go to injured reserve.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor announced the move on Saturday, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com.

Chase’s return timetable was majorly up in the air pending the fickle nature of a hip injury that simply needs time to heal. Had he gone to injured reserve he would have missed four games, missing through Week 12 against Tennessee at a minimum.

Instead, Chase is eligible to return whenever within the four-to-six week window initially provided by reports, if not sooner.

On paper, it’s safe to guess he misses Week 9 against Carolina in addition to Monday’s tilt against the Browns. He would then have the bye week to rehab before Week 11 on the road against the Steelers.