Bengals OC Brian Callahan on Joe Burrow's Week 1 status: 'We got a good plan in place'

Joe Burrow passed the first few practice steps this week as he tests out his tender calf. According to his coaches, it’s all going according to plan.

That’s according to Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, who briefed reporters after Thursday’s practice.

“I think he’s in a good place,” Callahan said. “And we got a good plan in place for him to get ready for Week 1.”

You could say preparation for week one started this week, as soon as the Bengals cut down to their 53-man roster then built its practice squad of 16 players. If Joe Burrow can’t go, then backup Jake Browning, a former Washington Huskies star, would receive the opening day start. Meanwhile, Cincinnati also signed Will Grier, the former Cowboy, to be their third-string quarterback. The Cowboys had hoped to bring back Grier for their practice squad.

Callahan said that Burrow’s knowledge of the Bengals offense means it’ll take him no time to catch back up to everyone else.

The next step for Joe Burrow, Callahan says, comes Monday. That’s when the Bengals up the intensity in team drills as they prep for their season opener against the Browns.

Joe Burrow suffered one of the most talked about injuries of the entire NFL preseason. Yes, it was a strained calf, so it required no intricate surgery. He did it on a QB rollout on the second day of training camp. The initial prognosis was for Burrow to miss at least four weeks. And we’re at the end of that time table now.

In two workouts this week, Joe Burrow did not wear a sleeve, or protective brace, on his calf. He also didn’t take snaps during full 11-on-11 team drills. However, Burrow did participate in 7-on-7 passing sets and assorted individual drills.

“I thought he looked good. It was good to get him out there,” coach Zac Taylor said of Burrow. “It certainly energizes the team when you get a chance to get your starting quarterback back there, so I thought he looked good.”

Taylor said there was “no defined checklist we need to see,” when to increase Burrow’s workload in practice.

“It was just good to get him out with the team and calling plays in the huddle and all that good stuff at practice,” Taylor said. “I think that was encouraging for everybody.”