Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is projected to be at 100% health once training camp rolls around.
While there are some long-term concerns about his wrist, Burrow’s made it clear that he’s not worried and expects to pick right back up where he left off prior to the injury.
It’s a small sample size, but it sure looks like he’s getting his groove back in Cincinnati.
Reflecting on his injury which derailed the Bengals 2023 season, Burrow admitted that it was tough to deal with.
“This was a difficult injury,” Burrow said of his setback. “It’s been a tough several months, but physically it’s not the worst injury that I’ve had. I’ve been through much tougher things physically and so that’s been a positive.”
Burrow’s injury history includes tearing multiple ligaments in his left knee, including the ACL, during his rookie year in 2020. Despite the injury, he managed to lead the Bengals to the Super Bowl the following season.
Reflecting on his recovery process, Burrow likened his wrist injury to his knee injury, suggesting a similar timeline for returning to normalcy.
“Fortunately, that coincides with the beginning of training camp start of the season,” he said optimistically.
During the rehabilitation process, Burrow admitted to feeling somewhat isolated due to the uniqueness of his injury.
“The guys that I have talked to have been offensive lineman, defensive lineman, linebackers that didn’t have to have that wrist mobility and the little intricacies of the wrist movement like I do,” he explained.
However, Burrow praised the Bengals training staff for their support, saying the rehab has been “lights out.” He also expressed confidence in his ability to regain full strength and motion in his wrist.
Interestingly, Burow has put on weight this offseason – the good kind.
“I’m eating more, I’m more dialed as far as nutrition and food schedule and eating when I need to so that’s been a big area of emphasis for me and I’ve seen the results,” Burrow stated.
Burrow’s commitment to his physical conditioning is evident as he acknowledges the importance of his increased size in enhancing his durability on the field.
“We’re bigger. Definitely bigger. We’ll see where I’m at at the end of the offseason. I feel good about where my body is right now. I’m going to continue to get stronger and bigger throughout the offseason and just play it by ear, depending on how I feel,” he elaborated.
The former #1 pick is cognizant of the toll injuries have taken on his career, having been limited to just 10 games in two out of his four NFL seasons due to various ailments.
Burrow understands the stakes, recognizing that continued setbacks could jeopardize his long-term performance.
“Like I said, I’m in a good spot right now. I’m really strong, bigger than I was. We’re going to continue to eat right, lift and go through my routine and see where I’m at,” he emphasized.
The urgency for Burrow to maintain his health is underscored by his rushed return from a calf injury last season, which noticeably affected his performance.
There’s a reason why so many people have compared Burrow to Tom Brady. He’s proven to be the ultimate competitor and now he’s putting an extra emphasis on his body.
During the season, Burrow goes to bed shortly after the sun sets. Now with his improved eating habits and added muscle, he figures to become an even more efficient quarterback on the field.
In other words, the NFL has been put on notice…
Looking ahead, the Bengals catch a slight break due to the fact that they have a much softer 2024 schedule than the rest of the teams in the AFC North.
Cincinnati’s upcoming slate goes as follows…
Week 1: Sept. 8, Bengals vs. New England Patriots 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Week 2: Sept. 15, Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
Week 3: Sept. 23, Bengals vs. Washington Commanders 8 p.m. ET | *Monday Night Football on ABC/ESPN
Week 4: Sept. 29, Bengals at Carolina Panthers 1 p.m. ET, Fox
Week 5: Oct. 6, Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Week 6: Oct. 13, Bengals at New York Giants 8 p.m. ET | *Sunday Night Football on NBC
Week 7: Oct. 20, Bengals at Cleveland Browns 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Week 8: Oct. 27, Bengals vs. Philadelphia Eagles 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
Week 9: Nov. 3, Bengals vs. Las Vegas Raiders 1 p.m. ET, Fox
Week 10: Nov. 7, Bengals at Baltimore Ravens 8 p.m. ET | *Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime
Week 11: Nov. 17, Bengals at Los Angeles Chargers 4 p.m. ET, CBS
Week 12: Bye week
Week 13: Dec. 1, Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Week 14: Dec. 9, Bengals at Dallas Cowboys 8 p.m. ET | *Monday Night Football on ESPN
Week 15: Dec. 15, Bengals at Tennessee Titans 1 p.m. ET, Fox
Week 16: Dec. 19, Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns | *Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime
Week 17: Bengals vs. Denver Broncos, Date and network TBD
Week 18: Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers, Date and network TBD
What are your thoughts on Burrow heading into the new season?
He’s proven to be the Kryptonite to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. (Or at least more than anyone else has.)
Do you think he will continue that form in 2024?
Where do you rank him among the top quarterbacks in the league?
Looking at the big picture, what are your expectations for the Bengals this coming season???