CINCINNATI — If one didn't know better, Tuesday looked like a normal offseason workout for the Cincinnati Bengals and quarterback Joe Burrow.
He broke through the tackle dummies, rolled to the side, threw out one leg and threw a couple of balls to receivers in the end zone. But he was more significant than it might seem, as he marked Burrow's first outdoor team practice since he suffered a season-ending wrist injury in November.
In his first press conference this offseason, Burrow detailed the recovery process from surgery and the challenges presented.
“This was a tough injury,” Burrow said. “It's been a tough few months, but physically it's not the worst injury I've ever had. I've been through a lot tougher things physically and that's been positive. I've really been able to lift weight and continue with my offseason program.” something like it's always been.”
As a rookie in 2020, Burrow tore several ligaments in his left knee, including his ACL, which also required surgery. While he didn't miss a game the following year, the season in which the Bengals reached the Super Bowl for the first time in more than three decades, he said it took about a year to feel normal.
He said Tuesday that he imagines the wrist injury will have a similar timeline.
“Fortunately, that coincides with the start of training camp for the season,” Burrow said. “We'll see where it is when the time comes. You never know, but we're in a good place right now.”
Burrow said that at the beginning of the recovery process, he was “flying blind.” Unlike other injuries, like the calf strain he suffered early in 2023 training camp in which he consulted with New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, he didn't encounter players at his position suffering. a similar injury to the wrist.
“The guys I've talked to were offensive linemen, defensive linemen, linebackers who didn't need to have that wrist mobility and the little intricacies of wrist movement like I did,” Burrow said.
The quarterback added that the Bengals' training staff has done a good job making sure Burrow regains movement in his wrist and said the rehab has been “off.”
The team's franchise quarterback spent time Tuesday working with tight ends, including recent signing Mike Gesicki. Other wide receivers like Trenton Irwin also worked with the quarterbacks, with top targets Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins absent during voluntary workouts.
Burrow said he has been pitching since early April. Irwin noted that Burrow's throwing velocity has not decreased despite wrist surgery.
“It's there,” Irwin said. “It feels great.”
Burrow, who signed a five-year contract extension worth $275 million last offseason, believes he's cleared for anything but full contact, which could come as early as next month. He declined to say whether his wrist hurt when he pitched. However, he is happy with the progress at this stage of recovery and is comfortable with the risks of tinkering with it in the future.
“I think most of those points are behind us,” Burrow said. “We're pretty much at the end of the six or seven months this is going to take, so at this point, it's just about getting ready to play football and things will continue to get better.”
