Bengals QB reflects on whether he’s still having fun playing football

Is Joe Burrow still having fun playing football? That’s a question the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback is still trying to figure out.

In a Dec. 10 press conference, one reporter asked Burrow if the turf toe injury that kept the quarterback sidelined for 10 weeks had affected ‘the way [he] views the game.’ After saying the injury didn’t affect how he felt about winning, Burrow became more reflective about the bigger picture.

‘If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it,’ said Burrow. ‘I have been through a lot. If it’s not fun, then what am I doing it for?’

One reporter asked a follow-up question on whether it’s been difficult for Burrow to have fun this season with his injury and the Bengals’ poor record.

Burrow said, ‘Yeah, certainly.’

Another reporter asked when playing football started to feel less fun for Burrow. The Bengals quarterback said there wasn’t a specific changing point, but that he’s been reflecting in recent days and weeks.

‘It’s just reflection on a lot of things that I’ve done and been through in my career,’ Burrow said. ‘I think I’ve been through more than most, and it’s certainly not easy on the brain or body.

‘(I’m) just trying to have fun doing it again.’

Moments later, someone else told Burrow he seemed especially reflective and asked if he had something specific on his mind.

‘There’s just a lot of things going on right now,’ Burrow said.

‘Football related? Personally?’ the reporter asked.

‘All of the above,’ Burrow said.

Joe Burrow injury history: Full injury timeline for Bengals QB

• Aug. 22, 2017: Burrow, a backup quarterback at Ohio State, undergoes surgery after breaking a bone in his throwing hand during practice. The surgery knocks him out of a competition with Dwayne Haskins Jr. for the QB2 spot.
• Jan. 13, 2020: Burrow, the starting quarterback for LSU, tears his rib cartilage in the first half of the 2020 CFP National Championship against Clemson. He remains in the game and wins the national title.
• Nov. 22, 2020: In Week 11 of Burrow’s rookie season with the Bengals, he takes a low hit while throwing his pass. He tears his ACL and MCL and suffers additional damage to his PCL and meniscus in his left knee.
• Dec. 5, 2021: Burrow dislocates his pinky finger on his throwing hand while taking a sack on the first series of the game. He remains in the game, throwing for 300 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
• Jan. 2, 2022: Burrow aggravates previous knee injury on one of the final plays in a game against the Chiefs. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Burrow told head coach Zac Taylor he could have gone back in.
• Feb. 13, 2022: Burrow sprains his MCL while taking a sack in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl. The injury requires rehab, but Burrow avoids surgery.
• July 27, 2023: Burrow strains his calf during a training camp practice and is carted off the field. He returns in time for the regular season.
• Nov. 16, 2023: Burrow tears a ligament in his wrist in the first half of a Week 11 game against the Ravens. He misses the rest of the season.
• Sept. 14, 2025: Burrow sustains a turf toe injury in a Week 2 game against the Jaguars while taking a sack in the second quarter. The Bengals declare him out for the game, and Burrow gets surgery to repair the ligaments in his foot. He missed 10 weeks with the injury before returning on Thanksgiving.