Three Cincinnati Bengals who could bounce back in 2024

The Cincinnati Bengals have three players looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2023 season.

Quarterback Joe Burrow

Burrow has been one of the best quarterbacks in the league when healthy, throwing for 14,083 yards and 97 touchdowns in the past four seasons, but that is something he has struggled to be.

In Week 11 of last season, he suffered a torn Scapholunate ligament in his right wrist and missed the remainder of the year. It was a devastating blow to the Bengals, who believed they were ready to contend for another Super Bowl. 

If Burrow is fully healthy, he'll allow them to do that again in 2024. Head coach Zac Taylor likes what he's seen thus far.

"He's been accurate, he's been on time, throwing with great velocity and power. I like what I see," Taylor said via Olivia Ray of WLWT.

Wide receiver Tee Higgins

Many have argued that Higgins would be viewed as a No. 1 wide receiver if it weren't for his teammate, Ja'Marr Chase, but he didn't play like one last season.

The former second-round pick registered a career-low 42 catches for 656 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games.

Higgins' decline in production was partly due to his rib and hamstring injuries, which sidelined him, but he simply wasn't good enough when on the field.

Cincinnati placed the franchise tag on Higgins this offseason, which should give him a little extra motivation to bounce back and receive the big payday he was looking for this year.

Offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr.

The Bengals handed Brown Jr. a four-year, $64 million contract last offseason after he helped the Kansas City Chiefs win Super Bowl LVII.

However, he far from lived up to the contract, allowing the 13th-most sacks in the league (seven), per Pro Football Focus.

Following Burrow's two season-ending injuries in the first four years of his career, Cincinnati has focused on keeping him upright.

Brown Jr. will play a big role in this. He should be expected to return to his Pro Bowl form in his second year with the team, or it might be his last.