Joe Burrow’s Risky Play in Preseason Raises Eyebrows

Supporters of quarterbacks skipping preseason snaps might find one particular play from Joe Burrow to back their perspective.

In a game against Washington on Monday night, the Bengals’ standout quarterback found himself evading a trio of defenders during a 31-17 victory. It was a moment that had fans holding their breath.

Fortunately, Burrow wasn’t injured and only played three drives. Still, many on social media flagged the moment as a risky decision.

“Maybe it’s not ideal to see Joe Burrow making plays like this in the preseason…” commented Ali Meilov from 33rd Team. “Or in any game, really.”

The Bengals have a different viewpoint when it comes to how much preseason action their quarterbacks should see, as they aim to avoid potential disasters.

Notably, quarterbacks like Buffalo’s Josh Allen, Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts, and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson have yet to step onto the field this preseason, while Patrick Mahomes took a single snap on two drives.

Cincinnati’s coach, Zach Taylor, is leaning towards a strategy of playing around a quarter of the starters each game. “We want our team’s starters to gain experience faster,” he said.

Interestingly, the Bengals have lost their first two games in the last two seasons.

This approach allowed Burrow to play two series in the preseason opener and three more on Monday night, where he completed 18 of 24 passes for three touchdowns through those five series.

Although Burrow exhibited impressive skills this preseason, that particular play underscored the perils of the quarterback position.

During a tied score of 7-7, on a third-and-12 from his own 17-yard line, Burrow scrambled to the left before heading toward his end zone.

He attempted to sidestep a defender near the 5-yard line but ultimately couldn’t evade the tackle.

Even commentator Joe Buck was taken aback by the incident. “Get off, Joe, it’s August,” he exclaimed.

Taylor later expressed his discontent with Burrow’s hit, while Burrow himself referred to the moment as a “bad bag.” In an interview during the game, he noted that he completed nine of 14 passes for 62 yards along with one touchdown.

“That’s part of what preseason football is for. Do I enjoy watching it? Not really,” Taylor reflected. “But he’s learning about his limits and has managed to escape situations like that before. It helps him feel the game at a higher level, even from a tough spot on the 2-yard line.”

“I’d say those were three productive series for him, and we’re all learning,” he added.

Yet, many social media users sided with Buck’s sentiments.

Barstool Sports jokingly captioned a video of the play: “It’s only preseason, and the Bengals’ O-Line already has Joe Burrow in trouble.”

Another user, Jordan Djani from CBS, tweeted, “Joe Burrow. Sir. That’s August.”

Looking ahead, the Bengals will compete again against the Colts on August 23, followed by a matchup with the Browns, led by Joe Flacco, on September 7.