A new report from a prominent NFL insider claims the growing speculation about Joe Burrow wanting out of Cincinnati is a big ol’ nothing burger.
Three years ago, the Cincinnati Bengals seemed set up to become a yearly contender in the AFC after surprising the NFL world and reaching the Super Bowl. However, things have not gone to plan for the team or Joe Burrow over the last three seasons. Mostly because of a defense that continues to be among the worst in the league, and injury woes to several key players, including their superstar QB.
Over the last three years, Burrow has suffered a calf strain, a torn right wrist ligament, elbow issues, and, most recently, turf toe. The various injuries have cost him significant time since 2023, and unsurprisingly, the Bengals will miss the playoffs for a third straight season. It’s probably why the QB had a bit of a crash-out moment this week.
“If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing this,” Burrow said at his Wednesday press conference. “I have been through a lot. If it’s not fun, then what am I doing it for? That is the mindset I am trying to bring to the table… There are a lot of things going on right now. A lot of things are going on.”
Joe Burrow Trade Not Happening in 2026
His unexpected comments quickly led to speculation that either he might just be done with football, or wants out of Cincy. Well, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Burrow isn’t going anywhere, nor does he want to.
“Everyone is being a little dramatic. This isn’t mental health, this isn’t depression, this is I want to win,” a source close to Burrow told the NFL insider.
Furthermore, Russini claims that the star QB “hasn’t asked for a trade or even hinted at stepping away” from the Bengals before or after his comments on Wednesday. According to those in the organization, he loves football and is simply obsessed with winning.
Although the insider claims there are elements of the organization that do frustrate him, his opinion this week was to target those concerns, or even taking shots at an offensive line that has gotten him beaten up the last three years. Instead, it was a bad day where the losing of the last few years just simply got to him.
