Bengals coach Zac Taylor gives update on Joe Burrow's return timeline

The Cincinnati Bengals took the field in a game setting for the first time since last January on Friday evening as they got beat pretty good by the Green Bay Packers to kick off the preseason slate. However, the loss and the performances of the Bengal players who did play all took a back seat to a bigger story: that injured star QB Joe Burrow is on the mend.

Before the game against Green Bay, Burrow completed his first throwing session since suffering his calf strain near the end of July. He was also seen doing some jogging exercises on the Paycor Stadium field before kick-off as well — all good signs for his recovery.

Team writer Geoff Hobson had a promising report of Burrow’s pregame activity: “Burrow looked crisp and smooth bouncing on his legs as he followed through with some zip.  After high-kicking both legs through some stretches, Burrow also got in some running.”

In the tweets below, you can watch him throw and jog, notably, without a sleeve around his right calf.

THIS is Joe Burrow throwing balls without a leg sleeve right now #Bengals @WLWT pic.twitter.com/aRowDdwUCi

— Mark Slaughter (@MarkVSlaughter) August 11, 2023

Joe Burrow is on the field running and was throwing a bit earlier. Starters are not expected to play tonight but positive news seeing this before the rest of the team comes out to warm up. pic.twitter.com/p9vN1ipVI8

— Bridget Condon (@BridgetCondon_) August 11, 2023

Certainly some positive clips there for the Cincy QB. He seems to be on schedule to return at or near the beginning of the regular season. And after the preseason game, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor confirmed that the time-table hasn’t changed for the franchise QB’s recovery.

“I think things are good and he’s progressing as he should,” Taylor said, according to Bengals beat reporter Ben Baby, who added some more quotes on Burrow from offensive coordinator Brian Callahan.

“He’s been rehabbing quite a bit. He’s doing a good job,” said Callahan. He also noted that Burrow’s mere presence on the practice is a major plus. “And to have him out at practice is always beneficial. Guys like seeing him too. I think you saw everybody excited to have him out, standing around watching.”

From what Callahan and Taylor said, Burrow seems on track to return at the time that was originally expected. Zac Taylor especially has remained adamant that Burrow’s return would be “several weeks” from when he initially suffered the injury — and there have been no hiccups to that window yet.

The Bengals don’t open the actual season until Sept. 10 vs. the Browns, which is still roughly four weeks away, giving Joe Burrow plenty of time to work his way back into game shape by then. But of course, we’ll just have to see if he does complete a full recovery by then.