2024-07-25 10:05:02
In a hair-raising first day of practice at Bengals training camp Wednesday, buzzed, bleached, and buffed Joe Burrow began what he hopes is his headiest preseason as a pro by turning the head of wide receiver Tee Higgins.
Higgins, who broke in with Burrow during that truncated COVID camp of 2020, has seen his guy do it all. But since Higgins is playing on the franchise tag, Wednesday was his first time on the field with him since Burrow had surgery on his wrist.
“He looks like the Joe y’all seen in the Super Bowl run,” said Higgins, shaking his head over a long ball he couldn’t chase down. “That’s what I like. I had to get my legs back. I’m going to put that one on me. He put it out there where I can go get it, and I just couldn’t get there.”
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor is making sure Burrow gets there both intact and in sync by protecting him with days off while also exposing him to snaps in preseason games, as well as joint practices with the Bears and Colts.
Burrow couldn’t get any preseason work anywhere the previous two years because of last season’s strained calf and 2022’s appendectomy the night before camp began. His only three preseason snaps came in a 2021 training camp he was limited by ACL rehab and he’s not only delighted he’s getting the extra work, but he thinks his offense can use it after getting off to two straight 0-2 starts.
“It’s just different when you go warm up knowing you’re going to play,” Burrow said after practice. “I think that’s the best way to go about it. This year we’ll try it out. I think in order for us to be at our best at the beginning of the year, I think we kind of need that. That’s something we wanted to do in years past and we haven’t been able to do. I’m excited to get that done this year.
“We’ll see (if it prevents a slow start). That’s a question that’s to be determined. I think we’re thinking about it the right way. I think we’re trying new things to try to help those slow starts and getting off to faster starts, putting us in a better position at the midway point of the season. I do think that it will help, but we’ll see.”
Burrow’s camp looks to be unfolding as one of feel and improv that fittingly began with a dare from defensive tackle B.J. Hill to bleach a buzz cut.
“I was bored,” said Burrow, who won’t be now with this busy August itinerary.
But Taylor also knows he’s got a Pro Bowl quarterback coming off surgery and there are going to be days he doesn’t throw. There are only two times before the Aug. 10 preseason opener against Tama Bay the Bengals practice more than two straight days and Burrow says they’ll play the third day “by ear.”
