Bengals Receive Brutal Joe Burrow Warning on Sunday

Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Bengals Receive Brutal Joe Burrow Warning on Sunday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Will Chesanek | Last updated Sep 13, 2026 3:37 PM ET

Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals are feeling the pressure as the 2026 NFL regular season begins. Burrow played in only eight games in 2025, posting career lows across the board. The six-year pro has still produced while on the field, throwing for 1,809 yards on a 66.8% completion percentage to go along with 17 touchdowns and only five interceptions in 2025.

With weapons such as two-time first-team All-Pro wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and Pro Bowler Tee Higgins, head coach Zac Taylor and his 6-foot-4 quarterback are looking to lead the Bengals back to Super Bowl form as Cincinnati hosts the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Paycor Stadium to open the 2026 NFL regular season.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) scrambles during practiceUSA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

It appears the unrelenting pressure on team owner and president Mike Brown keeps mounting, as recently, a former NFL star added further fuel to the fire. On Sunday, former Seattle Seahawks star quarterback Russell Wilson appeared on CBS Sports’ NFL Today and spoke on Burrow’s future with the organization.

In discussion with NFL Today host James Brown and analysts Bill Cowher, Nate Burleson and Kyle Long, Wilson spoke on how this is a make-or-break season for the Bengals with their star quarterback, how he believes Burrow wants to leave, and that a bevy of teams would be knocking at his door for his services.

“…Listen, if it doesn’t go well in Cincinnati this year, I’m telling you right now. If it doesn’t go well in Cincinnati this year, Joe Burrow is gone. I think he wants to leave, and what’s going to be interesting is, where does he go? There are some great teams that need a quarterback…”

“If it doesn’t go well in Cincinnati this year, Joe Burrow is gone.”@DangeRussWilson pic.twitter.com/fbRWVZLuYN
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) September 13, 2026