The Joe Burrow saga appears to be over in Cincinnati and the news is all good — he’s fully practicing and on track to start the regular-season opener Sunday at the Cleveland Browns.
“I’m ready to go,” Burrow said Wednesday. “I’m expecting to play.”
When the first injury report for Week 1 was released later Wednesday, Burrow was confirmed as a full practice participant.
The Bengals have been cagey with Burrow’s status since he sustained a strained calf during practice in late July. Head coach Zac Taylor said on Monday that Burrow was “day to day.”
Burrow, who led the Bengals to the Super Bowl during his second NFL season in 2021, is the next quarterback in line for a massive payday.
“(That is) the last thing I’m thinking about right now,” Burrow said Wednesday.
The Los Angeles Chargers recently made Justin Herbert the new highest-paid player in the NFL at $52.5 million per year (five-year extension worth $262.5 million), after extensions earlier this offseason for the Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson ($260 million) and the Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts ($255 million).
Burrow, 26, is 24-17-1 as the Cincinnati starter and has passed for 11,774 yards with 82 touchdowns and 31 picks. He was the No. 1 overall pick in 2020 and made the Pro Bowl in 2022.
