Joe Burrow makes feelings on Bengals future clear after previous comments

Fans of football teams in need of a top-tier starting quarterback understandably had their eyebrows raised when Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow said earlier this winter that "something's got to change" for a franchise that missed the playoffs for the third time in three years. 

Even before the Bengals retained head coach Zac Taylor and director of player personnel/de facto general manager Duke Tobin, some wondered if Burrow could be interested in receiving a fresh start elsewhere this offseason. During Tuesday's broadcast of the Pro Bowl Games, Burrow was asked by ESPN reporter John Sutcliffe if the signal-caller is happy in Cincinnati. 

Joe Burrow admits to having "bad days" with Bengals, but...

"Yeah, I am," Burrow responded, per Bebe Hodges of the Cincinnati Enquirer. "I think everybody has bad days, right? Everybody has bad days. Sometimes they fall on press conference days. You know, that's how it goes sometimes."

While Burrow indicated in December that he wasn't having "fun" as an NFL player, he later admitted that he couldn't see himself playing for a different team in 2026. It's possible Burrow was simply frustrated over how much playing time he has missed due to injuries since the Bengals made him the first pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Burrow suffered a torn ACL and MCL in November of his rookie season. His 2023 campaign ended prematurely because of a wrist injury, and he most recently suffered a toe injury in Week 2 of this season that kept him sidelined until Week 13. 

Why Joe Burrow participated in criticized Pro Bowl Games

Burrow participating in the Pro Bowl Games after he appeared in just eight regular-season contests sparked additional takes about whether or not the NFL should even bother with annual all-star festivities. During his chat with Sutcliffe, Burrow addressed accepting the NFL’s invitation to play in the Pro Bowl.

"I’ve been injured quite a bit in my career," Burrow explained, according to Tim Bielik of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "So I gained some perspective on this whole thing. When the league asked me to do it, I was a little hesitant at first. But then they convinced me, and I’m glad I did it."

For whatever reason, Burrow seems to be happier this winter than he was a couple of months ago. That's good news for Bengals fans who may have been concerned about his mindset ahead of Christmas.