“I’m excited to be out there in front of a full stadium,” Burrow said. “We have great fans that really support us. We just have to put a good product on the field to make sure that they feel proud of us. We do this for the fans as well as ourselves, but, you know, the fans are what make the game go. And so, I’m excited to show my appreciation to those guys, and hopefully go out and put up a good performance.”
Asked if he would take some time to soak in the loudest cheers being directed to him, Burrow said there wouldn’t be time for that.
“It’s going to be game time then,” Burrow said. “So I’m going to try to block all that out and then go out and execute.”
Bengals coach Zac Taylor hasn’t been surprised by Burrow’s recovery but looks forward to seeing him back on the field.
“Those guys have to have the mentality and the drive to get it done, and I think it just speaks volumes to the type of character that we have in the guys who come off injury to put themselves in a position to really contribute here in Week 1 for us,” Taylor said.
Burrow said he never had any doubt in his mind he would be ready to go again to open the 2021 season. He was making those statements even just hours after coming off the field injured last year at Washington, and it was clear he was on track this spring when he was almost full go for Organized Team Activities.
Going into training camp, Burrow had no limitations and he got three snaps in the preseason finale just to “shake off the rust” of getting back into a game environment.
“There was no doubt in my mind I was going to be out here Week 1 ready to go,” Burrow said with confidence Wednesday. “I have great people around me that helped me get here. I’m excited for myself but I think they’re excited for me as well.”
Burrow was on track to put up some impressive numbers as a rookie last year, despite games where things didn’t go so well for the offense and inconsistency from the offensive line that allowed 48 sacks on the quarterbacks in 2020. Burrow finished with 2,688 yards passing and 13 touchdowns with five interceptions through 9.5 games, including five outings with 300 yards or more.
This offseason while rehabbing his knee, Burrow focused on building up his strength so he could throw the deep ball better and extend plays with his legs. Players immediately noticed more “zip” on the ball this spring, and Burrow is hoping it all pays off for an improved second season. He feels back to his “normal” self.
“I expect to be better,” Burrow said. “I put in a lot of work this offseason that I’m excited to show off. As well as all of our guys have. We’re a much better football team that has prepared the way we need to and understands how to win games now, I think. I’m excited to put that on tape.”
Having some NFL games under his belt has helped Burrow feel more comfortable going into Year 2, even while having to wear an uncomfortable knee brace.
Burrow said he’s excited to get back to real football -- even taking hits. How that will feel on his knee isn’t a thought in his mind.
Joe Burrow meets with the media as the Bengals prepare for Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings. https://t.co/6L7wim6jEy
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) September 8, 2021
“I’m not worried about it,” Burrow said. “I’ve put in the work to feel confident in that.”
As Burrow has adjusted to life in the NFL, he’s also found more of a voice with his teammates. He was always vocal and considered a leader even as a rookie, but now he feels more comfortable taking on a bigger role in the game plan process with the coaches too.
Burrow said he voices his opinion more now overall. Part of that was former LSU teammate and practice squad tight end Thaddeus Moss telling him at one point he wasn’t being as vocal as he was in college. Part of it is just evolving as a player in Year 2 of the system and league.
He’s more confident now making checks at the line and expects that to make a big difference as he’s reading defenses better and communicating that to his teammates.
“When I’m more vocal, it kind of gets me into a rhythm and I stop thinking about what I have to do and I start thinking about what everybody else has to do,” Burrow said. “It reverts back to muscle memory. I think that played a part in me starting to play really well.”
SUNDAY’S GAME
Vikings at Bengals, 1 p.m., Fox, 700, 1530, 102.7, 104.7
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