Bengals’ Burrow returns, wouldn’t mind getting hit next time

CINCINNATI — A little contact could do Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow a world of good.

In his first game since suffering a season-ending wrist injury last season, Burrow was not hit in Saturday’s season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a move he called “a good thing” considering he went untouched on the opening drive of a 17-14 loss at Paycor Stadium, his only snaps of the game.

But it wouldn’t bother him if that changed before Week 1 as he’s still recovering from his wrist injury.

“It would probably help me more mentally than anything,” Burrow said. “Just understanding it, falling, it can hurt. Get that thing hit once before you get into a real game.”

Saturday was Burrow’s first preseason action since 2021, a season after he tore multiple left knee ligaments. Since then, he’s suffered injuries in training camp — a ruptured appendix in 2022 and a strained right calf in 2023.

On Saturday, Burrow said he wanted to go through a gameday routine — get the feel of calling a game, watching the clock tick away and reading the defense. On his lone drive, he was 5-of-7 passing for 51 yards and a 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tee Higgins.

“It was nice to get back out there and be with the guys,” Burrow said.

While Bengals coach Zac Taylor said Burrow looked “sharp” and in control, Burrow was more reserved in his self-evaluation, repeatedly saying there was room for improvement. As for further involvement in preseason games, that remains to be seen.

“That’s kind of a Zac question,” Burrow said, referring to Cincinnati’s sixth-year coach. “We’ll make that decision together and see where it goes.”

Burrow’s touchdown to Higgins was Cincinnati’s only point until the fourth quarter, when rookie Jermaine Burton hauled in a 37-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Logan Woodside. He also had a 38-yard reception on the game’s final drive that put Cincinnati within range of a potential game-winning touchdown.

Burton, a third-round pick out of Alabama, didn’t see much of the field until the third-team offense took the field. Those two catches were Cincinnati’s longest plays from scrimmage on Saturday night.

After the game, Burton said he wanted to prove he was worthy of playing in the league and justify Cincinnati’s decision to select him in the third round.

“I’m here for a reason,” Burton said. “They drafted me for a reason. I just wanted to show them they didn’t make a mistake by drafting (as) early as a lot of other teams would have.”