Watch Joe Burrow, ‘the leader of the team,’ throw at Bengals OTAs months after severe knee injury

Joe Burrow was back on the practice field for the Bengals on Tuesday.

As Cincinnati’s OTAs began, Burrow made sure that he was a participant. Despite having major knee surgery to repair a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee, he was able to participate and get some throws in while sporting a brace on his knee.

The No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft said “it was really important” for him to be there and get some work in with his new teammates.

“We have a lot of new faces on this team that need to see me there and see me working,” Burrow said, per ESPN’s Ben Baby.

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Here’s a look at some of his action, via Baby, Tyler Dragon of Enquirer and SI’s James Rapien.

Certainly, it’s encouraging to see Burrow back on the football field, and it gives further credence to his doctor’s assertion that Burrow would be “all systems go” by Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season. The Bengals obviously won’t push Burrow, but surely his recovery is going well. 

That said, even if he hadn’t been able to do on-field work, Burrow said he still would’ve wanted to attend OTAs with one goal in mind.

“I didn’t want to just not show up and do my own thing,” Burrow said. “I’m at the point where I can, even if I wasn’t able to do everything if my knee was less than what it is now, I would still want to be here and be around everybody and communicate and call plays in the huddle.”

Bengals coach Zac Taylor was pleased with Burrow’s decision to attend the voluntary workouts. He lauded Burrow’s leadership and expressed confidence in him ahead of his second season as the starting QB.

“He’s a leader of the team, and that’s what leaders do,” Taylor said. “They want to be there regardless if they’re doing a lot or doing a little. We got a lot of guys like him right now in the building and that’s exciting to see.

“But certainly he’s the leader of the team.”