Joe Burrow fully cleared for contact ahead of Bengals training camp

Joe Burrow and his surgically repaired wrist have been cleared for contact, and the Cincinnati Bengals star quarterback is ready to go for the opening of training camp on Wednesday.

Burrow was sidelined last season when he suffered a torn ligament in his right wrist in the 10th game, a loss to Baltimore on Nov. 16. He had surgery Nov. 27.

"We just we need Joe to be out there," new offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said. "He’s going to be out there. He’s worked himself in a really good place physically and mentally."

Coach Zac Taylor doesn't know yet if any kind of accommodations will be made for Burrow in training camp and doesn't know yet if the quarterback — or any of the regulars — will play in the preseason games.

But Taylor said he is feeling optimistic about Burrow.

"My impression of him, just seen him over the last several months, has been very positive, and he's ready to go,' Taylor said.

Burrow knows the drill when it comes to rehab. In his rookie year in 2020, he injured his knee while being sacked in Week 11 against Washington. He finished rehab just in time for the start of the 2021 season.

Appendicitis caused him to miss all of training camp in 2022. On the second day of camp in 2023, Burrow strained a calf muscle. He didn’t miss any games, but the injury limited his mobility in the early part of the season.

Pitcher said having Burrow at 100% or close to it for training camp is critical to the ramping up of the Bengals offense, which will be operating with a new No. 1 running back, likely Zack Moss, a new right offensive tackle in Trent Brown, and a new No. 3 receiver following the departure of Tyler Boyd via free agency.

"So just having him and, you know, the effect that he has on everyone around him," said