The Cincinnati Bengals nearly made the playoffs last season with backup quarterback Jake Browning after Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury. Burrow looks like he’ll be fully healthy for the start of the 2024 season, but whether he’ll have his full cast of talent around him remains up for debate.

With that in mind, here are three important decisions the Bengals must make before the start of the regular season.

Is not paying Ja’Marr Chase worth the risk?

Chase has not practiced since camp opened because he is due just $1.055 million in base salary in 2024 and wants to be paid after registering 268 catches for 3,717 yards and 29 touchdowns in the past three years.

The problem is owner Mike Brown hinted that next offseason “is a better time for that,” leaving Chase’s status for the start of the season up in the air.

It’s unknown whether Chase would consider extending his holdout into the regular season, but Cincinnati should not risk that.

The three-time Pro Bowler has more than proven he deserves a long-term extension as one of the team’s cornerstones.

Who will make up for the loss of Tyler Boyd?

Another reason why getting Chase back is so important is that the Bengals lost Boyd to the Tennessee Titans in free agency following an impressive eight years in which he recorded 513 catches for 6,000 yards and 31 touchdowns.

That’s a lot of production for Cincinnati to replicate. The team does have a few good options in second-year wide receivers Andrei Iosivas and Charlie Jones, as well as third-round rookie Jermaine Burton.

However, all are unproven, and there is much to learn at the next level. It may come down to whoever develops the best rapport with Burrow in training camp.

Who will win the No. 2 cornerback job?

Former second-round pick Cam Taylor-Britt is already locked up as the Bengals’ No. 1 cornerback. Through his first two seasons, he has 105 tackles, two forced fumbles, four interceptions, 17 passes defended and one touchdown.

Who will play opposite Taylor-Britt remains up for grabs. The battle will likely be between 2023 second-round pick DJ Turner II and 2022 first-round safety-turned-corner Dax Hill.

Both players are looking to take the next step, and Cincinnati needs them to do so after watching its defense allow the fifth-most passing yards per game (248.4) in the league last season.