Training camp plans call for no limits on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who has thrown a total of eight passes in preseason games the past four years.
But limiting Burrow in July and August in recent years might have been a factor in the troubling trend of slow starts, head coach Zac Taylor explained on Wednesday, when he revealed the new approach with the franchise quarterback.
“So he’ll participate every single day like he like he normally would, fully healthy, and then anticipate playing him more in games than we ever have,” Taylor said.
Burrow is all for the expanded role in any on-field situation.
“Coaches know how I’ve felt about that,” Burrow said. “How I’ve always talked about how that would benefit me for sure. Other positions, I think you have to be careful because of how physical those positions are. But for me those reps are valuable.”
Not always avoidable, injuries are also a part of Burrow’s story. He had a torn ACL (2020), dislocated finger (2021), calf strain (2023) and torn wrist ligament (2023) limit him in his first five seasons, part of the reason Taylor opted not to expose him much in preseason games.
Burrow completed 5 of 7 passes in the 2024 preseason, his first game action in an exhibition game since 2021 when he threw an incompletion in his only attempt.
Burrow said he gave up “an hour and a half or two in the sun” at home in the offseason at the request of Taylor and defensive coordinator Al Golden. Burrow said he led the defensive meeting.
“It was a cutup. I’m not sure, maybe 50 to 70 (plays), something like that,” said Burrow, downplaying his role in what Golden said was the highlight of the offseason for his defense. “I was just talking through what I’m seeing. What I’m looking at, certain coverages, who is giving it away. All that good stuff.”
One absentee on the field for the Bengals on Wednesday was defensive end Trey Hendrickson. Burrow said the business part can be “frustrating” but he remains in constant contact with him.
“It’s a cutthroat business,” Borrow said. “You’ve got to fight for everything you can get. It’s how it goes.”