Is Joe Burrow playing today vs. Browns? Bengals QB's status explored

The Cincinnati Bengals' chances this season rest on the shoulders of their quarterback Joe Burrow. Burrow has led them to back-to-back AFC Championship games, breaking their playoff drought in the process. He was rewarded with a five-year $275 million deal this week for his efforts, which makes him the highest-paid NFL player of all time.

However, earlier in the offseason, the Cincinnati Bengals had to worry about the fitness of their quarterback. He strained his calf and had to miss practice, putting his chances of starting the season in jeopardy. Burrow's involvement is crucial in an AFC that is loaded with great teams and quarterbacks.

The AFC North is loaded with strong teams that they need to overcome to reach the playoffs. The Steelers are perennial winners under Mike Tomlin, the Ravens have Lamar Jackson, with his own new contract, and Odell Beckham Jr, and the Browns will have a full season with Deshaun Watson for the first time.

The Bengals kick off their season with a divisional matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor has confirmed that Burrow is good to go in the season opener.

Although he was listed on the injury report, he took part in practice on Wednesday and Thursday. The last of those sessions was in full pads, showing that he is ready to put his body on the line after recovering from a calf injury sustained in preseason.

“... We’ve had these conversations over the last couple of weeks where you got to be honest, you know, it’s all season," Taylor said. "And if you’re not ready to go, then let’s not do this. But the feedback’s always been ready to go. So that’s that’s where we’re at. What he wants to share beyond that, it’s is up to him as a game goes.”

He also indicated that they will be trying to win the game against the Cleveland Browns and not limit Joe Burrow in any way.

“We talk way more about Cleveland than we talk about any of this (injury), I think it’s on y’all’s minds. But for us, it’s focusing on the game plan, and those are 99.9 percent of our conversations... You’ve got to let him (Joe Burrow) go. You just gotta go play the game.”

How to watch Cleveland Browns vs Cincinnati Bengals?

The Cleveland Browns host the Cincinnati Bengals in a mouth-watering AFC North clash on Sunday. Deshaun Watson would be looking to remove focus from his off-field drama to his performance on the field. Joe Burrow will want to prove that the Bengals are still the top dogs in the division and that his injury is a thing of the past.

You can see all the action as follows:

• Game Day: September 10, 1 p.m. EST on CBS
• Online on NFL+

It promises to be a fiery game that sets the tone for a competitive division. Last season, both the Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens made it to the playoffs, before meeting again in the postseason. The AFC North is arguably even stronger now and it should be a treat.