When wholesome, Bengals’ Joe Burrow is likely one of the finest quarterbacks within the league, throwing for 14,083 yards and 97 touchdowns throughout 52 video games.
Nonetheless, he has struggled to remain on the sector via his first 4 years within the NFL. He is aware of that should change to have a profitable 2024 season.
“Properly, primary, I wish to be on the sector for all of the video games,” Burrow mentioned through Ben Felderstein of Advanced Sports activities. “I do know I’ll play nicely after I’m on the market. I am at that time in my profession the place I’ve seen sufficient to know myself that I can go on the market and play in addition to anyone within the recreation. The most important strides this yr are going to be my physique and studying tips on how to get via the season, get via practices with my physique, and feeling in tip-top form. And in order that’s the principle focus for the offseason.”
The No. 1 total decide in 2020 is coming off his second season-ending damage (wrist) after tearing his ACL and MCL throughout his rookie yr.
If Burrow can keep wholesome for the whole season, he’ll give Cincinnati one other probability to win its franchise’s first Tremendous Bowl, and there is some urgency, too.
The 2024 season often is the final with vast receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Each gamers are eligible for giant paydays, and the Bengals are unlikely to pay each after making Burrow the highest-paid participant in NFL historical past final offseason.
Burrow’s accidents should be behind him to totally benefit from having each playmakers one final time. His most up-to-date wrist damage required surgical procedure.
The 27-year-old determined to study a brand new ability this offseason to assist together with his restoration and total energy.
“I am studying the piano proper now, hopefully I can get fairly good at that by subsequent offseason,” Burrow added. “I suppose it’s going to be fairly powerful through the season, nevertheless it’s helped my rehab too for my wrist, in order that’s one thing I wish to get good at. … I’ve at all times needed to discover ways to play, however this was an opportune time to work on my hand and wrist dexterity whereas additionally studying that. So it was form of the right storm.”
The Bengals are hoping Burrow’s piano classes repay. In the event that they do, Burrow may change into simply the second participant in NFL historical past (Chad Pennington) to be named the NFL Comeback Participant of the 12 months twice.