“I wouldn’t say this is necessarily an award you want to be nominated for two times.” That’s what Joe Burrow had to say as he accepted his Comeback Player of the Year award. Burrow has been in the spotlight this season. At least the latter half of it, and for all the right reasons. After battling back from a season-derailing wrist injury (last season), Burrow proved once again why he’s the heart and soul of the Bengals. But in the 2024 season, the Bengals got off to a slow start, losing the first 3 games, which finally affected their playoff chances.

Well, Joe isn’t holding back. The QB opened up about the team’s rocky start to the season. And let’s just say, he’s not making excuses.

Talking about the absence of Tee Higgins, Burrow said, “We didn’t have Tee for training camp for most of it.” Higgins also missed the first two games of the season due to a hamstring injury. But Joe was quick to shut down any excuse-making: “That’s not an excuse.” Burrow pointed out that the team needs to figure out how to hit the ground running earlier in the season. Whether that means more preseason reps, joint practices, or even guys taking the offseason more seriously. “We got to play better early on, and whatever it takes to do that, whether it’s preseason, reps, joint practices, guys, you know, taking the offseason a little more seriously. I don’t know what it is, but we’ll have those discussions and try to get that fixed.” He is correct.

Last Thursday night, on Feb 6, Joe Burrow walked the red carpet at the NFL Honors. And for the second time in his career, he took home the Comeback Player of the Year Award. Burrow first won the award back in 2021, when he made an incredible comeback from the knee injury he suffered during his rookie season.

The Bengals QB didn’t talk about the team’s slow start. He’s also been putting pressure on Cincinnati’s front office to finally get those player contract extensions sorted, especially that of Ja’Marr Chase.

Joe Burrow wants Ja’Marr Chase on the Bengals squad

Joe Burrow has been losing his patience with the Bengals front office. The team has been delaying player contract extensions for a while now. And the QB has made it clear several times that he wants Ja’Marr Chase on the Bengals squad, no ifs or buts about it. Chase and Burrow go back a long way; the duo played together during their time at LSU. The Bengals drafted Chase in 2021, reuniting him with Joe once again.

Ja’Marr signed a four-year rookie deal worth $30.8 million, and he will enter free agency in 2026. The WR isn’t waiting around for the Bengals to figure things out. He’s been pushing for a fair contract extension, but the front office has been dragging its feet. Sports commentator and analyst Mike Florio recently pointed out that guarantees were a major sticking point in extension talks last offseason.

“If you can just make it through year four with a guy on a first-round contract, you’re saving a ton of money,’ Florio said. “But this year, Chase is due to make $21.8 million, so the gap isn’t as big.” The Vikings managed to lock down Justin Jefferson without all the drama, so why can’t the Bengals do the same? It’s a fair question. Especially when you’ve got a quarterback like Joe Burrow who’s fed up with the front office’s delays.