What does it take to get a franchise quarterback truly rattled? The NFL is full of storms which basically start with contract drama, rookies holding out, and egos clashing in the trenches. Yet, year after year, Joe Burrow stands at the eye of the chaos. As one exec once said, “Burrow doesn’t blink in a hurricane,” a sentiment that’s defined his game and maybe, just maybe, his latest take on the newest Bengals saga.

The Cincinnati Bengals walked into the summer spotlight not for another deep playoff run, but for what’s missing: their star edge rushers. With OTAs and minicamp in the rearview and training camp ramping up, two crucial pieces, Trey Hendrickson and rookie Shemar Stewart, were nowhere in sight. Chatter on social media spun the story every way imaginable, but the real intrigue lingered in how the Bengals’ signal-caller would respond. After all, Burrow understands better than most how contract disputes can split a locker room or galvanize it.

Enter the main stage moment: pressed on the absences, Joe Burrow, who led the league with 4,918 passing yards and a 43:9 TD:INT ratio in 2024, didn’t sidestep his words. “Yeah, it’s definitely disappointing. You know, those are two guys that we need to be here and, you know, kind of get ready for the season. But, you know, I understand their situation. You know, they want to get paid and, you know, they deserve to get paid. So, you know, hopefully we can get something figured out soon,” Burrow told reporters, as the Bengals buzzed with questions about chemistry, depth, and preseason reps. Burrow doubled down when describing Stewart’s rookie holdout as “new” and “unique” which is a nod to how rare and disruptive rookie standoffs have become in today’s NFL. Burrow said, speaking of Stewart. “I certainly don’t have the relationship with Shemar that I do with Trey yet, since we haven’t spent as much time together, but he’s doing what he feels is best.”

This isn’t just about a QB expressing standard-issue “disappointment.” Trey Hendrickson isn’t just another name on the depth chart; he posted an NFL-best 17.5 sacks last year and has made it clear he wants “market value and long-term security,” turning his camp absence into a marquee negotiation over guaranteed money and respect in the pass-rusher market, recently he even exposed the Bengals. Meanwhile, Shemar Stewart’s own holdout, driven by guaranteed money disputes in his rookie deal, is unprecedented prompting Bengals director Duke Tobin to say, “We’re treating him fairly,” while Stewart’s agent clapped back that the negotiations were “above [Tobin’s] pay grade”. The holdouts cast a shadow on defensive prep for a unit that finished 25th in points and yards allowed last year and is already ranked near the bottom for 2025.

Joe Burrow’s preseason shift signals offensive urgency in Cincinnati

While defensive headlines swirl, Zac Taylor’s QB1 plans cut through the noise. For the first time, Burrow will get more preseason snaps than ever as the Bengals look to shed their slow-starter label a move spearheaded by Taylor, who said, “He’ll participate every single day like he normally would, fully healthy, and then anticipate playing him more in preseason games than we ever have”. Consider this: Burrow had only nine preseason dropbacks over his first five seasons, and Cincy has opened 1-5 in Week 1 games under Taylor, a stat that’s haunted the Queen City like clockwork.

The Bengals aren’t shy about banking on offense this fall, especially with Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Mike Gesicki locked in for the long-term. But among the fan base, skepticism brews over whether increased preseason reps for Burrow can compensate for a defense in flux. The real concern? That Burrow’s arm may have to carry the city while the defense sorts itself out.

For Burrow, the “disappointment” isn’t about airing grievances or stirring drama, it’s a matter-of-fact assessment from the Bengals’ field general. The Bengals locker room, though tested, still echoes Burrow’s “let’s get some sacks this year” challenge to Stewart in their first meeting. But the roads to cohesion remain unpaved.

So, as training camp grinds on with contract chess pieces moving off the board, and the shadow of last season’s bottom-quarter defense looming, the Bengals’ next act comes into focus. Will Burrow’s trademark ice-veins leadership carry them through, or is this just the first rumble of a season where the defense, not the offense, becomes the headline? That’s what makes this summer in Cincinnati pure appointment viewing.