Bengals Quick Hits: Joe Burrow Checks All The Boxes, Looks Sharp In Preseason Debut, Bengals Fall To Bucs Late, 17-14

CINCINNATI — Joe Burrow and his surgically repaired right wrist checked all the important boxes Saturday night, and that alone made the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a rousing success.

From the moment Burrow took the field Saturday afternoon on the sunsplashed new turf of Paycor Stadium, it was apparent he was ready to go, throwing passes, going through pregame warming up with energy and enthusiasm. Clearly, he was trying to replicate a regular season vibe.

After all, it had been 10 months since he threw a pass in a competitive game.

The results? He completed 5-of-7 passes for 51 yards, including a 10-yard flat pass to Tee Higgins, who made a defensive back miss in open space and shedded another defender near the goal line for a 10-yard touchdown.

The Bengals rallied late but Tampa Bay scored with 65 seconds left to prevail, 17-14, in the preseason opener before a Paycor Stadium crowd of 63,323.

Burrow only needed one drive, consisting of 12 plays for 73 yards over six minutes, 26 seconds. He took 13 snaps as one play was wiped out due to defensive pass interference as the Bengals faced third-and-17 from the Tampa Bay 26.

Burrow first pass was a completed quick hitter to Higgins and then a no-gain swing to Chase, who ran for a first down on third-and-1.

Burrow’s first incompletion was a perfect pass to Higgins on a deep post route in end zone in double coverage and broken up.

In general there were great signs from Burrow for the coaching staff and Burrow himself. He came back after the first incompletion with a on the money throw to Andrei Iosivas and then killed the next play when a blitzer got pass Drew Sample. The instinct was there from the starting quarterback.

Aside from the numbers, that’s what Burrow needed to feel on the field and that’s why he played 13 snaps.

Back-up quarterback Logan Woodside connected with third-round pick Jermaine Burton with 3:33 left for a 37-yard score to put the Bengals up, 14-10, before the Bucs scored on a three-yard Ramon Jefferson run up the middle with 1:05 left.

Other takeaways from Saturday:

Rookie Amarius Mims was as advertised. The first-rounder provided solid pass protection at right tackle in the first half.

Josh Newton came back from a borderline blindside hit that seemed to take the wind out of him momentarily. He high-pointed a pass from Kyle Trask for the interception man coverage. A good impact play.

Newton’s secondary pal Daijahn Anthony spent over 10 minutes in the medical tent after leaving with a bloodied nose midway through the third quarter.

DJ Turner was beaten on a crosser but had two passes defended.

Dax Hill had two pass breakups before nearly picking off a pass. He caught the ball but couldn’t maintain to the ground. But on another ball, he failed to turn around and allowed a deep completion down the right side.

Travis Bell had a sack and then committed a neutral zone infraction on 4th-and-inches that resulted on a Tampa Bay first down.

A brutal night for 2021 second-rounder Jackson Carman. Two holds and a false start.

Brad Robbins had punts of 37 and 53 yards. Ryan Rehkow (pronounced RICO) boomed one for 50 then had a 59-yarder from the Bengals end zone, which helped flip the field. Robbins responded with a 60-yarder on his next chance. The battle continues between Robbins and the rookie free agent out of BYU.

Evan McPherson missed a 58-yard field goal attempt wide right at the halftime gun, his second career preseason miss in four seasons. Rehkow was the holder.