In the words of Eminem, “Guess who’s back, back again?” It’s none other than Joe Burrow ! The quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals has been fully cleared for practice with contact. Head Coach Zac Taylor informed the media.
In addition to this, Zac Taylor revealed via Ari Meirov that Joe Burrow and all the starters of the Bengals will play at some point in the preseason. The moment fans have been waiting for has come to an end as Burrow’s full availability is an indicator of him being healthy and back to his usual self.
Joe Burrow has been out of action since Week 11 of last season when he sustained a right wrist injury against the Baltimore Ravens. Despite his best attempts, he struggled to grip the ball. The worst fears of the Bengals had come to fruition. Burrow was out for the remainder of the season and his unavailability cost the team a chance to make the playoffs.
Joe Burrow will hope to make yet another Super Bowl run now that he is at 100%
The quarterback had to undergo surgery on what was diagnosed as a torn ligament in his right hand. Physical durability has troubled Burrow in the past, including in his rookie season when he tore multiple ligaments in his left knee including the ACL, and had to undergo surgery for the same.
His return comes at the right time. This off-season, the Bengals had to deal with the uncertainty of bringing back wide receiver Tee Higgins. Despite his initial reluctance to play through the 2024-25 season on the franchise tag and holding out from the team’s voluntary OTAs, Higgins changed his mind and agreed to take the one-year deal that pays him $21.8 million.
Zac Taylor told Bengals local media that Joe Burrow has been fully cleared for contact
He’s back 👀 pic.twitter.com/5chCdI0KXr
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) July 22, 2024
The path back to the Super Bowl will be rockier this time around for the Cincinnati Bengals . The AFC North is more competitive than ever with a Cleveland Browns squad that made the playoffs without Deshaun Watson coming back with him at the QB position. Then there exists the threat of the Baltimore Ravens, a team that came to the brink of making it to the Super Bowl and proved its dominance in the North.
