Was Joe Burrow’s preseason appearance a display for fans?

When Joe Burrow took the field at Paul Brown Stadium, he was greeted with a loud, standing ovation. And rightfully so.

But was that reception the only reason he was put in the game?

The quarterback played just three snaps and threw one pass. That isn’t really much of an opportunity to get ready for the regular season. This is further complicated by the fact that Burrow is coming off MCL and ACL ligament tears in his left knee and damage to his PCL and meniscus. He may or may not be entirely healthy. Could the Bengals be trying to send a message that he is, indeed, fine so as to garner enthusiasm?

Joe Goodberry joined our show to weigh in on the topic. “That seems like they kinda just put him out there for the fans,” he said. “They said three snaps and they’re pulling him out. So even if they got a first down, they were going to pull him out.”

Goodberry feels that Burrow needs to get hit for him and fans to be able to overcome the mental hurdle of worrying about his health. “I’m sure he wants to get hit,” he said. And fans do too, Goodberry said, because they know it’s inevitable. “He’s going to get hit in the leg. He’s going to run. He’s going to get smashed. And I think we’re all going to hold our collective breaths until he does and gets up, and we’re going to say, ‘Okay.’ And maybe it’ll take 15 or 20 or 30 hits before we all feel comfortable.”

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