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Ben Baby, Editor at ESPN
CINCINNATI – A little contact could make a big difference for Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
In his first game since a season-ending wrist injury last season, Burrow was not hit in Saturday’s season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He called it “a good thing” because he was untouched on the opening drive of a 17-14 loss at Paycor Stadium, his only appearance in the game.
But he wouldn’t mind if that changed sometime before Week 1 as he continues to recover from his wrist injury.
“It would probably help me mentally more than anything,” Burrow said. “Just understanding that falls can hurt. Just letting that thing hit you once before you’re out there in a real game.”
Saturday was Burrow’s first preseason appearance since 2021, a season after he tore multiple ligaments in his left knee. Since then, he has suffered injuries in training camp – a ruptured appendix in 2022 and a strained right calf in 2023.
On Saturday, Burrow said he wanted to go through a game-day routine — get a feel for how to commentate on a play, watch the countdown play clock and read the defense. On his only drive, he completed 5 of 7 passes for 51 yards and a 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tee Higgins.
“It was nice to be back out there with the guys,” Burrow said.
While Bengals coach Zac Taylor said Burrow appeared “sharp” and controlled, Burrow was more cautious in his self-assessment, repeatedly saying there is room for improvement. Whether he will play in more preseason games remains to be seen.
“That’s a Zac question,” said Burrow, referring to Cincinnati’s sixth coach. “We’ll make that decision together and see where it goes.”
Burrow’s touchdown to Higgins was Cincinnati’s only point until the fourth quarter, when rookie Jermaine Burton caught a 37-yard touchdown pass from reserve quarterback Logan Woodside. He also had a 38-yard pass reception on the game’s final drive that put Cincinnati in range for a potentially game-winning touchdown.
Burton, a third-round pick out of Alabama, didn’t get off the field much until the third offense got on the field. Those two catches were Cincinnati’s longest plays of the game Saturday night.
After the game, Burton said he wanted to prove he was worthy of being in the league and wanted to justify Cincinnati’s decision to select him in the third round.
“I’m here for a reason,” Burton said. “They drafted me for a reason. I just wanted to show that they didn’t make a mistake drafting me so early, like a lot of other teams would have done.”
