Following the Cincinnati Bengals’ victory over the Washington Commanders in their second preseason game, prominent sports personality Stephen A. Smith had some choice words for Bengals head coach Zac Taylor.
During the game, Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow took some major hits from the Commanders’ defense, prompting Smith to air out his issues with Taylor’s decision to leave Burrow in the game for as long as he did.
Stephen A. Smith Rips Zac Taylor for Risking Joe Burrow in Preseason
The Bengals have been known for starting slow in recent years, thus making the race to make the playoffs tougher far earlier than expected. To rectify that issue and come out of the gates hot in 2025, Taylor let Burrow and the starters see the field far more in preseason, much to the dismay of Smith, who let Taylor have it on his show “First Take.”
“It makes no sense whatsoever, and when you consider how God awful their defense is… it just elevates the necessity of Joe Burrow,” Smith said, questioning why Burrow was out on the field for so long.
“It makes no sense whatsoever and when you consider how God awful their defense is … it just elevates the necessity of Joe Burrow.”@stephenasmith goes off on HC Zac Taylor for leaving Joe Burrow out for three series in the preseason 😳 pic.twitter.com/1vEkaX87Nw
— First Take (@FirstTake) August 19, 2025
Burrow played in three offensive possessions in the win against the Commanders. The star QB completed nine of 14 passes for 62 passing yards, throwing one touchdown pass and leading another drive that was capped off by a rushing touchdown from running back Chase Brown.
The three series Burrow played in, and although the Bengals scored in two of them, the offense was not always smooth. Burrow took a few hard hits, which sparked fire in Smith the next morning.
When asked if he had a problem with Taylor leaving Burrow in the game for as long as he did, Smith began his rant.
“I have a problem with Zac Taylor, period. I have a problem with him coaching in the offseason. I have a problem with him never having this team prepared to play in September. I certainly have a problem with him leaving Joe Burrow in that game for as long as he did.” Smith said, opening his segment by questioning Taylor.
Smith then shifted his attention to Burrow by questioning the quarterback’s decision-making in a preseason game.
“There was a couple of plays where he was running for his life. I don’t know why he didn’t just go down. It’s a preseason game. Why are you taking those hits unnecessarily?”
Probably don’t want to see Joe Burrow doing this in a preseason game…
Or in any game, for that matter.pic.twitter.com/0SgdPnU8TG
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 19, 2025
Above is one of the plays that Smith was speaking about. The clip shows Burrow running in circles as three defenders take the QB hard to the ground, with no offensive lineman in sight. The clip quickly spread across the internet, sparking Smith’s outrage.
Should Burrow Be Seeing the Field at All in the Preseason?
Smith’s frustration tapped into a larger debate around the league: whether established franchise quarterbacks should even take the field in preseason. While some coaches argue that live reps help build timing and rhythm before Week 1, critics like Smith see the risk far outweighing the reward.
Taylor and the Bengals’ decision feels even more dangerous. Burrow’s health is the franchise’s greatest asset. He’s already battled a torn ACL and calf issues early in his career. Every snap he takes in a meaningless game is a chance the Bengals’ entire season could be thrown off course.
That’s why Smith didn’t hold back, finishing his rant by hammering home the point: risking Burrow at this stage for that long “was stupid.” Whether Taylor views the extra work as preparation or unnecessary danger, the spotlight is now on how the Bengals manage their star quarterback moving forward.
With Super Bowl aspirations and the AFC as competitive as ever, the Bengals can’t afford to gamble with the health of the player who makes it all possible. But to counter, if the Bengals aim to return to the postseason in 2025, the team cannot afford another slow start in a stacked division.
