Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow returned to team practice earlier this week on Sunday as he was undergoing surgery to remove his appendix two and a half weeks ago. It was Burrow’s first time attending the Bengals’ training session after he was expected in late July to miss quite a few training camps.
The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. reported that the star QB was fresh off from the walkthrough and was seen wearing a jersey and holding a helmet. While there were no reports regarding how Burrow performed in the walkthrough on Sunday morning, his return means a good sign for the team, as well as his recovery.
Burrow post-surgery
Burrow’s appendix surgery began in late July and since then he has been off-field. The 25-year-old resumed throwing on August 8 when he threw a few light passes but none were “close to full speed”, as per Sports Illustrated’s Zach Koons.
On that day, Burrow seems to have been recovering post-surgery at a great pace. Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan shared the QB was feeling better, indicating that the player may soon hit the field with the team.
“He’s feeling better,” Callahan said via ESPN. “So I just asked him if he wanted to do it and he said, ‘Yeah.’”
Head coach Zac Taylor shared the same tone as the OC but remains uncertain about the exact timetable for Burrow’s return.
“He looks good to me,” Taylor said. “He’s starting to get better every single day. Again, I don’t want to put a timeline on when he gets out here and starts throwing and stuff, but it’s been encouraging.”
Returning on Sunday means that the 2021 NFL Comeback Player of the Year is heading to a great start following his appendix surgery. More updates about the QB will likely be released in the coming weeks, as per multiple reports.
With Burrow could be returning this year, the Bengals will no longer have to worry about its QB department, especially backup Brandon Allen who sustained a concussion in the team’s preseason opener.
Burrow‘s career with Bengals
Burrow was among the 58 players invited to the draft and he was drafted by Cincinnati first overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. On July 31 that year, he inked a four-year $36.1 million rookie contract.
A product of LSU Tigers, Burrow had to get through an ACL tear in his rookie year that could put him away from playing in the NFL. Regardless, Burrow remains one of the Bengals’ most beloved players and all is due to his talent. In two seasons with the team, the QB appeared in a total of 26 games, all of these games he played as a starter player. He also recorded 47 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.
Burrow was among those who helped Cincinnati back on its proper footing in the previous season by helping the team to win the AFC championship as well as its first Super Bowl entry since 1988.
Earlier in last season, Burrow had to finish his rehab ahead of Week 1. He was fresh off from his injury at that time and helped the team to claim a 2-1 start. 15 weeks later against the Baltimore Ravens, the 2021 NFL completion percentage leader threw his career-high 525 yards and finished 37 of 46 passes. While he was zero in interceptions, Burrow made four touchdowns alongside a passer rating count of 143.2.