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Joe Burrow marked his on-field return from a long-term injury in style. The Cincinnati Bengals' starting quarterback is coming off a very debilitating wrist injury, having undergone surgery last November.
But on Saturday, he showed that he had barely lost a step, finding fellow starter Tee Higgins for a touchdown in the first quarter of the preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - his first in a preseason since 2021:
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Soon, Bengals fans were rejoicing:
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More of it can be seen below:
"Let's make a run!!" one cheered.
"Season preview!" another wished.
"I hope Joe stays heathy (sic)," another prayed.
The Buccaneers would tie the game with a five-yard run by Bucky Irving, and as of this writing they are leading thanks to a 35-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin.
Will Joe Burrow win 2024-25 MVP? TWSN thinks so
Joe Burrow's importance to the Cincinnati Bengals cannot be underestimated. In the two seasons that he has remained injury-free, the team made at least the conference title game, even going to the Super Bowl when he was a sophomore in 2021-22. In the two that he was injured(2020-21 and 2023-24), they failed to make the playoffs.
That is why it is imperative for the one-time Pro Bowler and current all-time completion percentage leader to avoid another debilitating injury. The staff at The Wrightway Sports Network (TWSN) believe that he is a lock to do so and claim his first-ever MVP this season:
"Joe Burrow is coming. Even though he’s ascended into the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks, he’s coming this season. He’s coming for something he’s come close to winning twice before, but this season he will win it.
"(He) may be coming off an injury again going into 2024, and the NFL may have forgotten about him after his season ended seven games early in 2023. But he’s a more established quarterback going into this season than he was in 2021."
They attribute that notion to the changes that have occurred in Burrow and the Bengals during the offseason. He bulked up by 10-15 pounds, improving his durability. Meanwhile, de facto general manager Duke Tobin brought in protection for him in the form of free agent Trent Brown and rookie Amarius Mims, who will be competing with Orlando Brown Jr. for a starting left/right tackle spot.
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