Joe Burrow eager to return to regular season action for Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Burrow’s rookie season with the Cincinnati Bengals was cut short due to an unfortunate torn ACL. In his return to the field Sunday, Burrow played just three offensive snaps in the Bengals’ preseason finale. Coming out of his first game action since he tore his ACL, Burrow felt good and is ready to head into the regular season.

Burrow excited for the regular season

Burrow played in 10 games for the Bengals before going down with his significant knee injury in a game against the Washington Football Team. He completed 65.3 percent of his passes with 2,688 yards, 13 touchdowns and five interceptions. Burrow also had three touchdowns rushing. Now that he has some live snaps under his belt again, Burrow is ready to get into the games that matter.

“Yes. We are ready to go,” Burrow said after Sunday’s game, via Pro Football Talk. “I’m excited about this next week. We have a chance to get our minds right. This will not be as taxing on the body. We have a chance to physically be ready for week one. I’m excited to get a game plan and get ready to go.”

Burrow and the Bengals will face off against the Vikings on Sunday, September 12 to begin the season. One of the biggest questions for Cincinnati is if they will be able to protect Burrow. He was sacked 32 in less than ten full games last season. The Bengals used a second-round draft pick on Clemson guard Jackson Carman and a fourth-round pick on tackle/guard D’Ante Smith out of East Carolina.

Burrow reunites with LSU receiver Ja’Marr Chase

When the Bengals take the field in the regular season, one of college football’s best duos of all time will be reunited. The Bengals selected LSU receiver Ja’Marr Chase fifth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, reuniting him with Burrow. Some experts did not agree with the pick, believing that getting offensive line help was a bigger priority. For the Bengals, having the opportunity to replicate the success that dominated college football in 2019 was one they simply could not pass up.

In LSU’s national championship run during the 2019-2020 season, Burrow and Chase were unstoppable. Burrow threw for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns. Chase was his favorite target, hauling in 84 receptions for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns. The two were a big part of LSU’s ability to go undefeated.

Now, the Bengals look for that success to carry into the NFL regular season. Burrow has a few other weapons to work with on the Bengals’ offense in Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, and Joe Mixon. If Cincinnati wants to compete in the loaded AFC North, they will need a huge season from the former LSU duo.