Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow expected to play in preseason for first time in 3 years

Past injuries have consistently hindered Burrow from competing in the preseason. A calf strain knocked him out all of last preseason, and an appendectomy sidelined him in 2022. His rookie season in 2020 featured zero preseason games due to COVID-19. 

Burrow's first and only preseason game he's ever played in came in 2021 against the Miami Dolphins, the team's third and final exhibition from that year. Burrow was still recovering from his torn ACL from 2020, and was given three snaps to get his feet wet before the regular season.

That injury was originally sustained in November from the previous season, which is also when he suffered his latest injury. Burrow, who has officially been fully cleared for contact, is nearly nine months removed from surgery on his right wrist that ended his 2023 season. 

Burrow was present for the entirety of OTAs and minicamp back in May and June, and was throwing in each of the practices he participated in. There were days when he didn't practice, but he's been cleared to throw since the spring. 

Now that he's cleared for full contact, the only thing that will limit how much we see from Burrow is up to him and the coaches. There could still be days where he rests his wrist leading up to the season, and even during the season for precautionary purposes, but this is a positive update nonetheless on his status with several weeks to go until the regular season.

Burrow may not play a ton in the preseason, but any amount of snaps is more than he's gotten over the last two years. That bodes well for ensuring the Bengals starting fast in the regular season.