Joe Burrow injury update: Bengals star shines in first practice since appendectomy
Although Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has not played football since his appendectomy on July 27, he looked in midseason form when he took the field on Sunday. Burrow was on the field for the first time since training camp began. And he smiled.
So were his coaches and teammates. Burrow looked every bit the quarterback he’d shown himself to be during his stunning second campaign. There were dimes lofted, laser beams and everything in between for the former No. 1 overall winner. It was an impressive performance that made something very clear to the Cincinnati staff: Burrow is back.
“He was smooth as ever, cooler than the back of a pillow,” linebacker Logan Wilson said, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. “He threw one and looked back at Coach Taylor. I said, ‘I’m glad to have you on my team.’ He’s the leader of this franchise.”
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Here’s the latest news on Burrow’s upcoming return to the gridiron.
Joe Burrow injury update
Burrow had his appendix removed on July 27 after reports the Bengals star had appendicitis. While the procedure is fairly common — a National Library of Medicine study found nearly 10 percent of participants had their appendectomy surgery — Burrow’s recovery timeline seemed to be taking a little longer than expected, according to his father.
“It’s actually a major operation unless it’s just routine so it set him back a long way but he seems to be getting better every day and hopefully he’ll be back on the field here in a couple of weeks,” said Jim Burrow.
Jim Burrow delivered this update on August 5th. It appears Burrow’s treatment has gone as well as could be expected, allowing the QB to return to the practice field a little quicker than his father initially anticipated.
Burrow was scheduled to take part in two of the team’s 7v7 drills. He attended all 10. And after a cautious start, Burrow looked impressive, showing the precision and arm strength that made him such a force in 2021. According to wide receiver Trenton Irwin, who Burrow connected, it was a sight to behold with on a floating deep ball.
“Man, he threw up some points,” Irwin said. “I didn’t know (what to expect). I knew it was a game we could win and I thought it might show up. I didn’t know what the limitation was. I hadn’t even seen him throw a ball 10 yards.”
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He continued to toss dimes all day. One was Kwamie Lassiter II, placed perfectly between two defenders. Another – perhaps Burrow’s best of the day, according to locals – went to Stanley Morgan Jr. for a 20-yard gain.
With his strong showing over the weekend, Burrow looks set to be back on the field sooner rather than later. That only means bad things for defenders, according to Wilson.
“He picked up where he left off,” Wilson said. “You shouldn’t expect anything else.”