What Burrow expects in Year 2 with Bengals
What the world saw of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow in 2020 was just a glimpse.
“I expect to be better,” Burrow said Wednesday. “I put in a lot of work this offseason that I'm excited to show off. All of our guys have. We're a much better football team that has prepared the way we need to and understands how to win games now, I think."
After suffering a season-ending knee injury 10 games into his rookie year, Burrow wants to show what people initially saw of him wasn't a fluke.
h Prior to the injury, he was on pace to break the Bengals' single-season passing record. He was also poised to break the rookie records for attempts, completions, and 300-yard games.
h His 264 completions were the most ever by an NFL quarterback through their first 10 career games.
h Burrow's five 300-yard passing games tied a Cincinnati single-season record.
h He was the first rookie in NFL history to throw for 300 yards in three consecutive games.
Burrow attacked his rehab relentlessly. Cincinnati's 24-year-old quarterback cut dairy out of his diet. He dropped to 190 pounds at one point and had to build his strength back, so he started lifting more. He now fluctuates between 210-215 pounds.
Head coach Zac Taylor has tailored his offense to Burrow's strengths, and entering their second season working together, Burrow is even more involved in the game plan.
“I'm voicing my opinion more probably, yeah,” Burrow said.
Taylor has also given Burrow the freedom to make changes at the line of scrimmage.
Offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, who's coached veteran quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Matthew Stafford, said it's telling how much trust Burrow has earned.
“You see something, you check it, you go,” Callahan said he tells Burrow. “We're not going to second guess that. There's a plan in place, but he does have the freedom to get to anything. Our system is now becoming his. That's what you want it to be.”
Burrow gets his first chance to show he's capable of leading the Bengals to their first winning season since 2015 when Cincinnati hosts the Vikings Sunday.