NFL analyst believes Zac Taylor let slip Ja’Marr Chase is quietly being fined for holdout

Zac Taylor and Ja’Marr Chase have spent the last month quietly navigating the tricky art of negotiation in the NFL. However, Taylor may have hit a stumbling block.

On Monday's edition of "Pro Football Talk," NFL analyst Mike Florio claimed he had discovered a reason to believe that Chase wasn't let off the hook for missing practice this summer.

"Zac Taylor, the head coach of the Bengals, was asked if Ja'Marr Chase is being fined for not practicing, and he didn't comment, which means he's being fined for not practicing. And so that adds an element to it," Florio said. [0:58]

Florio claimed there was dysfunction surrounding the negotiations. With not much time left to sign the wide receiver and a late start to practicing, rust could be a factor for the receiver early in the year. Of course, it will be up to Ja’Marr Chase to prove otherwise, assuming he sets foot on the field in Week 1.

The wide receiver appears to be practicing now, but the ceasefire appears to be quite tense with seemingly a return to skipping practice possible at any moment.

Bengals potential depth chart without Ja’Marr Chase in Week 1

Analysts disagree on the odds of Ja’Marr Chase suiting up for Week 1 without a new deal. However, should he not suit up for the Bengals against the New England Patriots in Week 1, the receiver room and offense as a whole will look quite different.

Without Chase, the Bengals would have to play Week 1 without both their starting running back and wide receiver from last season. Here's a look at what the top of the depth chart could look like without Chase.

QB: Joe Burrow

RB: Zack Moss, Chase Brown

WR: Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas, Jermaine Burton, Trenton Irwin, Charlie Jones

TE: Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample

OL: Orlando Brown Jr., Cordell Volson, Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, and Trent Brown

Should Chase not play in Week 1, the starting wide receiver duties would fall to Tee Higgins. Higgins is also in somewhat of a standoff with the Bengals. Currently, the wide receiver is hoping for a new deal but has been forced to play on the franchise tag.

As such, Joe Burrow's weapons have plenty of trouble navigating. Could it be the downfall of the offense in Week 1?

If any of the above quotes are used, credit "Pro Football Talk" and H/T Sportskeeda.