Bengals believe Burrow is on track for offseason workouts

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Bengals continue to monitor quarterback Joe Burrow’s recovery from wrist surgery, and coach Zac Taylor provided another update this week.

Burrow, 27, underwent the seasonending operation in November. The procedure, done in Pennsylvania Dr. Thomas Graham, repaired the scapholunate ligament in Burrow’s right wrist, an important stabilizing ligament in his throwing hand.

“Everything is positive,” Taylor said. “Everything is encouraging. He’s tracking well for the offseason program. We’ll continue to give him space and his rehab work, but everything has been going exactly how we hoped it would go.”

Taylor hesitated to put a timeline of when Burrow will begin throwing again, but the expected recovery time for this specific injury ranges from four to six months. Burrow was hurt on Nov. 16 in the Bengals’ 34-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens and then underwent surgery on Nov. 27. The Bengals begin their offseason program on April 17.

“I think we’ve always targeted this offseason program as a good time for him to get back out there and get with the guys and so we’ll go from there,” Taylor said. “Everything has been really positive.”

Taylor expects Higgins to have ‘great year’

Wide receiver Tee Higgins requested to be traded after the Bengals officially applied the franchise tag on him at the end of February. But Taylor seems unconcerned.

“We’re excited for Tee to have a great year for us,” he said. “We think he’s our best chance to help us win a Super Bowl. I’ve enjoyed working with Tee the last four years, I expect this year to be no different.”

It’s unclear if Higgins will report for Cincinnati’s voluntary offseason program starting in mid-april, and if he chooses not to report, Taylor won’t hold it against him.

In 2022, safety Jessie Bates skipped the Bengals’ offseason program and most of training camp after the team placed the franchise tag on him. Last year, offensive tackle Jonah Williams opted to train on his own after asking the team to trade him.

“Those are their business decisions they make and we’ll continue to prepare the guys that are there and get ready for training camp,” Taylor said. “Excited to have a great year with Tee.”

In four seasons with the Bengals, Higgins has caught 257 passes for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Joe Burrow is still working his way back from wrist surgery, and Zac Taylor has refused to put a timeline on when he will throw again.