What Joe Burrow’s Pregame Workout Says About Bengals QB’s Timeline To Return

Injured Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow made his first appearance at practice Wednesday for the joint session against the Green Bay Packers. Friday night, he did his first workout in front of media since suffering a calf strain on July 27.

About three and a half hours before kickoff, Burrow walked through the tunnel at Paycor Stadium and did a 10-minute workout overseen by head trainer Matt Summers and director of rehab Nick Cosgray. Burrow threw short, intermediate, and deep passes, and he also ran sprints from the sideline without the calf sleeve he debuted the day he was carted off the field.

How Does Burrow’s Workout Alter His Timeline To Return?

Following the Packers’ 36-19 victory, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said there is no updated timeline for Burrow’s return. The day after the injury, Taylor said Burrow would be out several weeks. He’s repeated that phrase multiple times in the three weeks since.

“Things are good and he’s progressing as he should,” Taylor said.

Everything Burrow does is deliberate, and this was a conscious decision to send a message that he’s progressing well. He could have worked out inside the facility or across the street at the indoor facility, away from view of the media. Doing so with multiple cameras filming his every move was on purpose.

Asked about the objective for having Burrow go through drills in front of cameras, Taylor said it was “just to get some throws in.”

In terms of how Burrow felt after the workout, Taylor said, “I think everything’s been positive.”

Shortly after Burrow finished his workout, the team’s official X account tweeted a picture of him with the caption: “Not now… but soon.”

Not now… but soon. pic.twitter.com/PjblM23miN

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 11, 2023

Backup quarterbacks Jake Browning and Trevor Siemian failed to finish any drives with touchdowns and were a combined 25-of-45 for 216 yards with two interceptions.

Browning, who started and played the whole first half, was 10-of-17 for 95 yards with an interception. And Siemian, who played the entire second half, was 15-of-25 for 121 yards with an interception.

“I saw some good things. They moved the ball at times, but ultimately their job is to get us in the end zone and offensively we didn’t get the ball in the end zone at all.

“We kicked some field goals, had the defensive touchdown, but ultimately that’s what we’re judged on — protecting the football and getting the team in the end zone. Not enough of that tonight.”