Less than 24 hours after it was reported that the Cincinnati Bengals agreed to sign Joe Burrow to a record-breaking contract extension, Zac Taylor made it official that the quarterback will start Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. The news doesn't exactly come as a surprise for the Bengals, but it wasn't long ago that Joe Burrow's Week 1 status was very much uncertain.
Burrow's calf injury at the start of training camp forced the Bengals' quarterback to miss the entire preseason. Taylor said that Burrow would miss several weeks, making it unknown if he would be ready for Cincinnati's Week 1 matchup with Cleveland. Ja'Marr Chase even suggested that he wanted Burrow to rest up for the first month of the season in order to ensure that the signal caller would be healthy for a championship run.
Burrow's contract negotiations with the Bengals were highlighted after he got hurt. Imagine if the quarterback suffered a torn Achilles right before he was set to become the highest-paid player in NFL history?
Fortunately for Burrow and the Bengals, the 26-year-old avoided a long-term injury. Not only is the quarterback good to go for the 2023 season opener, but he's now signed with Cincinnati through the 2029 season.
Burrow's $275 million contract broke the record that Justin Herbert set in July.
Burrow's rookie season in 2021 was cut short after 10 games because he suffered a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee. The injury seemingly had no effect on him the following year. Burrow took Cincinnati to the Super Bowl and was arguably the best AFC quarterback in the 2022 season. Burrow and the Bengals came up just short against the Kansas City Chiefs in last season's AFC Championship Game rematch.
The Bengals are slight road favorites over the Browns in Week 1.