Maybe Zac Taylor was bluffing all along.
The Cincinnati Bengals head coach on Tuesday played coy with the media, claiming not to know when superstar quarterback Joe Burrow would be returning to practice following a calf strain he suffered more than a month ago. But as it turns out, Burrow‘s return was more than around the corner — it would happen Wednesday afternoon.
Burrow made his return after 34 days away from his teammates — most encouragingly, appearing without any kind of wrap around his injured right calf. And with that, Cincinnati fans can breathe just a little easier.
Burrow’s recovery
Burrow was carted off the field on July 27, right as the Bengals were opening training camp for the 2023 NFL season. At the time, Taylor said he expected Burrow, the top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, would be sidelined for multiple weeks.
Burrow has been a limited participant in previous Bengals preseasons. Two years ago, he was in the final phase of his recovery from a torn ACL, after which he led Cincinnati to their first Super Bowl appearance in over 30 years. Last year, he was recovering from a July appendectomy.
But the Bengals‘ franchise signal-caller practiced for half an hour on Wednesday with no apparent problems, and he appears to be all set for Cincinnati’s season opener against the rIval Browns.
Extra “juice,” thanks to Joe
Burrow‘s return to training seemed to light a fire under his teammates. Center Ted Karras said it was good to have the 26-year-old back in practice, and Burrow’s presence — as well as the chance to compete for a championship — convinced quarterback Will Grier to join Cincinnati as Burrow‘s understudy.
Receiver Tee Higgins was also hyped about his quarterback’s return, saying it gave the Bengals a bit more zip than usual as the new season dawns.
