The Tiger King may return to his throne just in time for the start of the 2023 NFL season.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a calf injury early in training camp, but the seemingly minor issue has kept him out for almost the entirety of the preseason. What's more, Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor seems to believe Burrow is in tip-top shape entering the weeks before the regular season.
If you're an NFL conspiracy theorist, then there may have been more to the situation with Burrow and the Bengals than meets the eye. The two sides have been engaged in contract talks since the conclusion of the 2022 season, and while Burrow is in line for a potentially record-breaking deal, there seemingly hasn't been much movement on either side.
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With Week 1 approaching and Burrow finally returning to the playing field, the passer seems to have erased some doubts as to whether or not he'll be ready for the Bengals' cross-state matchup with the Browns come Sept. 10.
Here's the latest on Burrow, his status and his calf — and maybe, his contract:
Will Joe Burrow play in Week 1?
On Aug. 30, Burrow returned to practice after over a month away from the team while nursing and recovering from a calf injury. That bodes well for his Week 1 status vs. the Browns.
While not playing in the preseason is customary of elite quarterbacks, it looks like Burrow's absence was strictly related to his ailing calf and not the rumored hold-up in contract negotiations.
Still, Bengals brass was a bit cagey about Burrow's return to the field. When asked if Burrow will return to practice this upcoming week, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor provided a non-answer on Aug. 29: "We'll see," he said.
Taylor let media know that Burrow was at or nearing 100 percent, which was a sign that Burrow was on his way back to the field.
"I think he has a very healthy body, and I'm encouraged by that," Taylor said recently.
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So, for the tin-foil hatters: Could this all have been a situation where Burrow is protecting himself while contract negotiations are underway? Not likely — at least according to Taylor.
The coach was quick to dismiss if Burrow was staging a "hold-in," denying rumors of that with a swift and succinct "no" on Tuesday. Still, that hasn't been enough to raise at least a little speculation of a hold up in contract negotiations.
So, the answer to "Will Joe Burrow play Week 1?" seems to have been answered — but not without some speedbumps along the way.