The Cincinnati Bengals had one of the most tumultuous offseasons in recent memory. Even though they gave both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins historic contract extensions, the focus was on the missed deals with both Trey Hendrickson and first-round pick Shemar Stewart. As a result, a defense that was among the worst in the league is heading into the new season with as many question marks, if not more. It is going to be a hard scenario for the Bengals to navigate.
But the pressure on quarterback Joe Burrow is going to be especially enormous. Despite his standing as one of the top quarterbacks in the league, back-to-back years without a playoff appearance have certainly hurt his case, particularly when his seasons typically start off slow. With a lot of people attributing his slow starts to a lack of preseason action, could this year see a change in approach from head coach Zac Taylor?
Will Joe Burrow Buck the Preseason Trend?
Since becoming a starter, Burrow has had a terrible history of starting off the season extremely slow. It became a national topic in 2022, when he began the year with a four-interception game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In his entire career, his record stands at 1-9, with just 15 touchdowns against an absurd 11 turnovers. For many, the correlation between lack of playing time in the preseason, a trend Taylor has followed for Burrow’s entire career, and the slow starts is hard to ignore.
Even Burrow saw the potential benefit in playing more in the preseason, even submitting an official request to the Bengals’ management and his head coach. As it turns out, his wish might be granted.
When Cincinnati squares off against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1 of the preseason, the two-time Pro Bowler is going to be on the gridiron taking snaps behind center. While the likely plan is to only play the starters one quarter, it would be an interesting shift in dynamic.
What Does Preseason Action Mean for Burrow?
Over the years, the former first overall pick has firmly cemented himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the entire league. However, the lack of hardware and, in recent years, playoff appearances is starting to hurt his legacy.
While the defense had a major role to play in Cincinnati’s struggles last year, Burrow had a slow start once again in the first two weeks of the year. Losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2 was understandable, but a loss in the season opener against the lowly New England Patriots was squarely on Burrow’s shoulders.
Bengals HC Zac Taylor announced Joe Burrow and other big name players will play “several” series on Thursday against the Eagles and even more in their second preseason game vs. the Commanders. pic.twitter.com/pFaqmd3Age
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) August 5, 2025
An opportunity to partake in preseason activities allows the superstar quarterback to change that reality about his career. With more reps under his legs right as the season begins, Burrow could buck the trend and come out racing from the fences.
For a team that needs to get back to playoff action, a fast start is going to be a key denominator for their success. Preseason is step one to making that dream a reality.
