Even with Bengals flaws, Joe Burrow’s return inspires hope

Joe Burrow has confirmed he’ll be ready for Week 1 and, even with the Cincinnati Bengals’ flaws on the roster, that’s worth believing in for fans. 

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Joe Burrow was taken out of LSU by the Cincinnati Bengals to hit the reset button at quarterback after Andy Dalton manned the position for many years. Such a move was made in hopes that the then-reigning Heisman Trophy winner could be the starting point for a new era with the franchise.

While the wins didn’t materialize with Burrow as the day one starter in his rookie season, the optimism was high. The rookie went just 2-7-1 as the starter but completed 65.3 percent of his passes for 2,688 yards, 13 touchdowns and just five interceptions while rushing for 142 yards and three touchdowns as well.

Unfortunately, his rookie year came to a halt after 10 games as Burrow suffered a torn ACL, no doubt a byproduct of taking an inordinate amount of punishment behind a porous offensive line. Thus, the first year in the NFL was cut short, putting into question what would be next for the first-overall selection in 2020.

After hints all offseason that he was on track to play in the season-opener, Burrow all but confirmed that with a simple message on Instagram: See you in September.

Considering that he tore his ACL in his 10th game of his rookie season, the fact that he’s going to be ready to go in Week 1 is quite remarkable. And the fact that he’s coming back should give fans in Cincinnati something to hang their hats on.

The Bengals’ rebuild is far from done but Joe Burrow still offers reasons for hope.

Make no mistake, playing in the loaded AFC North, the Bengals are still a step behind teams like the Browns and Ravens — and the Steelers too, depending on who you ask — in the division. Their offensive line is still a work-in-progress, their defense still leaves a bit to be desired and Zac Taylor has yet to prove his worth as a head coach.

Yet, what we saw from Burrow in his rookie season, coupled with the fact that he’s now joined by former LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase at wide receiver, should inspire hope. He was as advertised as a No. 1 overall pick, making plays with his arm and legs on a conistent basis. Moreover, he seemed to be picking up the pro game more and more with each passing game.

Returning from a serious injury is never a certainty but, with such a quick recovery and from someone who has displayed the mentality Burrow has from the moment he arrived in the Bengals’ facility, it’s hard not to believe in him.

Burrow is clearly the primary building block for the rebuild in Cincinnati. He can’t do it all himself but, if nothing else, he’s going to try. And that’s going to lay the foundation for the offense moving forward. Subsequently, him being ready to get back on the field when the 2021 season starts is undoubtedly a net positive for the franchise and fans as a whole.