Despite their success, the Cincinnati Bengals and quarterback Joe Burrow have become notorious for their slow starts during the last few seasons.
The 2023 campaign has just been the latest example of this as the Bengals only managed to get a win in one of their first four games, but now they are currently sitting with a 3-3 record as they head into a Week 8 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.
Part of Cincinnati’s recent turnaround has had to do with the improved performance of Burrow, who spent the first few weeks of the season hobbled by a calf injury.
Well, it sounds like what Bengals fans have recently seen from their team’s top quarterback out on the field is expected to continue, as The Athletic’s Diana Russini reported on Sunday that his health is “100 percent” and his calf injury hasn’t caused “any limitations” during practice recently.
I asked a source close to Bengals QB Joe Burrow: Is Joe the Joe we saw in the AFC Championship game health-wise? The answer: “Yes. Joe is 100 percent. He hasn’t had any limitations at practice or bad soreness in his calf.”
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) October 29, 2023
During his first four games this season, Burrow completed fewer than 58 percent of his passes for just two touchdowns and two interceptions while only averaging 182 passing yards per contest.
In his last two games with Cincinnati, the Pro Bowl quarterback has boosted his completion rate to 74 percent, he’s thrown for five touchdowns and two interceptions, and he’s averaged 251 passing yards per matchup.
It’s not surprising, but the Bengals are clearly a better team when Burrow is at his best.
Cincinnati will certainly need their quarterback at his best for their Week 8 matchup on Sunday against a tough San Francisco 49ers team.
But if Burrow and the Bengals are able to come out of Week 8 with another victory, they’ll likely return to being considered one of the best teams in the AFC.
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