11 August 2023 , 22:14
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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has started running and throwing again just two weeks after being carted off the practice field.
The superstar has had Bengals fans holding their breath in recent days after he suffered a calf injury that left him struggling to walk. But prior to the Bengals preseason game with the Green Bay Packers on Friday evening, Burrow had taken part in pre-game practice drills - including running and throwing.
On Thursday, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor gave somewhat of a non-answer when asked about Burrow's injury status. When asked about Burrow’s return timeline, Taylor abruptly told reporters: "It will be several weeks from when I said it will be several weeks."
And just days ago, teammate and superstar wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase told the quarterback to sit out for weeks to come.
"I told him that with all honesty I don't want him there," Chase told NFL.com, when asked about Burrow’s injury.
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"I sat out an extra game just to let my hip all the way heal up, and you don't want to cause no other problems later on in the season, and I told him as long as you're there after Week Five and on, we're good brother.
"I'm looking at him every day, watching him every day, seeing his rehab, so you know he looks good right now, like I said when it first happened, I've seen his demeanour and the way that he felt I could already tell what happened to him. So he's in good hands, working well, getting his sleep in."
Burrow looked to be running well, and should be on track to start for week one of the regular seasonBut videos have now shown Burrow already running and throwing in a welcome boost. With the season not set to get underway for a month, it would be a huge surprise to see the quarterback not take the field.
Burrow is set for a huge contract extension, with him reportedly being in talks with the team of the course of the offseason. However, the parties are yet to come to an agreement.
Burrow’s current contract runs for the next two years until 2025. He signed a four-year deal worth a guaranteed $36m when drafted, but will expect to be one of the highest-paid players in the league.
Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin has provided some insight into how the negotiations are going, as he told Pat McAfee: "We’ve looked at a lot of different things. Every dollar that goes out counts. So it’s a pie. Just how big of a piece of the pie, you know, the only thing I can predict with the contract is it’s gonna be a sizeable amount of money, and he’s not going to be asking any of you for loans anytime soon. He’ll be paid well and he’s earned it."