The UFL’s leading receiver will get another chance at an NFL job in Cincinnati.
Hakeem Butler led the spring league with 652 yards while playing for St. Louis this year and the Bengals announced his signing on Friday afternoon. Butler was named the league’s offensive player of the year in recognition of his effort and he was also an All-XFL player during the 2023 season.
Butler spent time with the Steelers last summer and he was a fourth-round pick of the Cardinals in 2019. He played in two games for the Eagles during the 2020 season.
The move gives the Bengals another wideout at a time when Ja’Marr Chase has been sitting out of practice. Head coach Zac Taylor did not say why Chase has been out, but that he’s healthy and that he and the team are on the same page.
The Bengals also announced the signings of cornerback Nate Brooks and punter Ryan Rehkow.
The Bengals are making an addition to their secondary on Friday.
According to multiple reports, the team is signing cornerback Nate Brooks to their 90-man roster. There’s no word about any additional roster moves in Cincinnati.
Brooks spent time in 49ers camp last summer and he’s also had stints with the Titans, Raiders, Cardinals, Buccaneers, Ravens, Dolphins, and Patriots. He’s seen action in three games for Miami and one game for Baltimore. Brooks had 11 tackles and two passes defensed in those appearances.
Brooks was most recently with Michigan in the UFL and his play earned a spot on the All-UFL team this year.
The Bengals have expressed that they’ll take some precautions with quarterback Joe Burrow as he returns from a season-ending wrist injury, and the team will put that into practice tomorrow.
Head coach Zac Taylor said after Thursday’s practice that Burrow will get a pre-planned day off from throwing on Friday.
“I wanted to not say that specifically until right now at this moment, but as you all can see, he’s been great the last two days,” Taylor said in his press conference, via Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “So, tomorrow is a pre-planned [day off]. He and I talked about that a week ago. He didn’t bring it up, I brought it up, that we were going to do that — just to be proactive with these couple of three-day stretches. We’ll see where we’re at next week. Again, that’ll be my decision. But I think he’s looked great so far and has felt really good, too.”
Multiple reporters on the Bengals beat have noted that Burrow has looked sharp over the last two days, despite not having top receiver Ja’Marr Chase participating with him.
“I’m always liking what I’m seeing with him,” Taylor said of Burrow, adding the quarterback has displayed great urgency. “Just, again, every year the ownership evolves with him in the offense. I wouldn’t say that it gets better or worse — it continues to evolve where he can see the little details, he gets to really master and help guys along. And I think that’s a big part of the quarterback’s job, is helping these young guys along, whether it’s [rookie offensive tackle] Amarius [Mims], whether it’s the receivers, new tight ends, Zack Moss — new players, he’s got to create chemistry and communication with those guys as quickly as possibly so he’s got confidence in them.”
After Burrow suffered a calf injury early on in training camp last year, the club would surely like to keep the quarterback healthy for the Week 1 matchup with New England.
Receiver Ja’Marr Chase did not practice for the second consecutive day to open training camp. But after the session, head coach Zac Taylor would not say the reason for Chase’s non-participation.
“He and I are on the same page,” Taylor said, via Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Asked specifically if Chase’s reason for not practicing was contract-related, Taylor said, “It’s a plan that Ja’Marr and I have.”
Also via Conway, Chase was asked if he wasn’t practicing due to his contract and his response was, “No comment.”
Taylor, however, did specify that Chase is healthy.
Chase, 24, is eligible for a contract extension after completing his third season. But earlier this week, team owner Mike Brown suggested that the matter was closed for the time being, saying it’s unlikely “that this is the good time to negotiate.”
“I’m not going to rule anything out, but I will tell you that the die has probably been cast,” Brown said.
Brown, however, also said that the team would “bend over backward” to sign Chase.
Taylor did not indicate when Chase might begin practicing. The receiver did not participate in the voluntary portion of the offseason program. Chase attended mandatory minicamp, but didn’t participate in team drills.
“I don’t expect anything else other than the plan he and I have in place,” Taylor said, while not sharing whatever the plan is. “He and I have talked every single day and we’re on the same page.”
Whenever Chase does return to practice, Taylor has plenty of confidence the receiver won’t miss a beat.
“He’s a freak,” Taylor said.
Chase is set to make $1.055 million in base salary in 2024. The Bengals picked up Chase’s fifth-year option for 2025, when he is set to make $21.816 million guaranteed.
A new deal for Chase is likely to be in the neighborhood of Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson, who recently agreed to a four-year deal worth $140 million with $110 million in guarantees.
The NFL is unveiling its annual Top 100 players list, in which the players themselves vote on the best players in the league. Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase doesn’t want to say who’s No. 1.
When Chase was interviewed for the TV show where the list is unveiled, he refused to say the name of the No. 1 player. When the interviewer said, “I don’t know who you’re talking about,” Chase said, “Yeah, you do,” and he was clearly talking about Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. But he didn’t want to say it.
“I’m not saying him. I give credit when it’s due, but I’m not saying his name,” Chase said. “I’m not saying his name, brother. I’m sorry.”
Chase said he would vote for Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow if he had to declare someone No. 1, because he wouldn’t say the name of a certain Chiefs quarterback who has won the last two Super Bowl MVPs.
“I’m not saying that guy’s name. He’s good, he’s amazing, he’s good -- I’m not going to lie. I’m salty, though. I’m a little salty. Two years in a row. I’m putting Burrow first,” Chase said.
The Bengals will be at Kansas City in Week Two, where Chase will see the best player in the NFL up close, even if Chase won’t say so.
