The Cincinnati Bengals have an interesting situation on their hands when it comes to the health of superstar quarterback Joe Burrow, who went down with a calf strain early in training camp and has only just returned to the practice field ahead of Week 1.
Much like other teams with elite quarterbacks, the Bengals need a healthy Burrow under center in order to be a force to be reckoned with in the AFC during the 2023 NFL season.
Cincinnati may be talented on both sides of the football, but Burrow makes them special and a legitimate title contender, which means they need him for every game in order to live up to expectations moving forward.
James Jones of FOX Sports talked about Burrow’s shaky status before Week 1, and he believes it is paramount to the team’s success that he be under center for the first two games of the season via, “Speak” on FS1.
“Joe Burrow can’t afford not to play the first 2 games.” — @89JonesNTAF pic.twitter.com/1pUlicrNlR
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) September 1, 2023
Currently, it is uncertain whether Burrow will play Week 1 when they take on the division-rival Cleveland Browns on the road, with head coach Zac Taylor refusing to reveal the team’s plan at quarterback.
As if facing the Browns right out of the gate on the road wasn’t bad enough, the Bengals will face another divisional opponent in Week 2, with Cincinnati hosting Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.
Without Burrow under center, there’s a decent chance the Bengals start the season 0-2, which is unacceptable for a team expected to win the AFC North division and contend for a title, as Jones points out.
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Analyst Gives Update On Joe Burrow’s Status For Week 1
