If the Cincinnati Bengals want to get back to the Super Bowl again this year, they’re going to need quarterback Joe Burrow to stay healthy all season long.
The third-year QB, who led the Bengals to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1988 last year, has been away from the team since undergoing an appendectomy earlier this week. Since then, Burrow hasn’t been seen at the team facility and people are wondering when he’ll be able to get back and start practicing.
While it doesn’t appear that Cincinnati is too worried at this point, head coach Zac Taylor has been getting questions about his quarterback’s return timeframe and he’s answering as honestly as he can.
“I don’t have any timetable,” head coach Zac Taylor said on Saturday, via Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “We’re just trying to give him some privacy, and I’m sure he’ll be back in when he’s ready.”
Zac Taylor continues to not put a timetable on Joe Burrow’s return: pic.twitter.com/hRE7TPyIKS
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) July 30, 2022
When Burrow does return to practice, there might be a chance he’ll need some time to get up to speed before becoming a full participant, but Taylor didn’t want to commit to anything specific yet.
“That’s hard for me to predict right now, so I’ll just stay away from making that prediction,” Taylor said.
Bengals fans are already nervous about the team’s ability to repeat last season’s success, but chances are that Burrow will be back in action soon enough. Until then, the news that he remains MIA for the time being garnered some reactions from the NFL world.
Generally, it’s 2-4 weeks for an appendectomy. Joe Burrow won’t be hit in practice, so as soon as he’s able he’ll be out at practice throwing. Safe to say, unlikely Burrow plays in a preseason game but plenty of time to be ready for the season. https://t.co/DyINjQKYE5
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 30, 2022
So he won’t play in the preseason so same as last year https://t.co/zRdVWBpVbl
— Brad (@Bigbird1182) July 30, 2022
— Sara Elyse (@SaraElyse128) July 30, 2022
Fits our pre-surgery expectations.https://t.co/qGttQjMtod
— David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) July 30, 2022