In recent years, the Cincinnati Bengals have been using QB Joe Barrow sparingly in the preseason. He dealt with injuries heading into the season and the team played with caution.
These factors have led to a slow start in Bengal, which is part of why they missed two consecutive postseasons. Heading into 2025, Bengals head coach Zach Taylor said the team is taking a different approach. On Wednesday, he told the media that the team will play Joe Barrow more in the preseason “than we’ve ever had.”
How much playing time will Bengals QB Joe Barrow be watching in the 2025 preseason?
Bengali coach Zach Taylor said he expects QB Joe Barrow to “have more than ever” in the preseason game, ramping up for week one.
– Ben Baby (@ben_baby) July 23, 2025
The Cincinnati Bengals have finished 9-8 in each of the last two seasons. A slow start killed the team’s momentum to become a real candidate again in the AFC. Cincinnati started the 2023 season 1-3 and finished 9-8 years. They didn’t make the playoffs. During the 2024 season, the Bengals started 1-4 and finished with a 9-8 record. Again, they didn’t make the postseason.
Head coach Zach Taylor and the Bengals are not planning to allow a slow start tank in 2025. To prepare the team for week one, the team tries something new with QB Joe Barrow. In the past, he was a limited number of preseason participants. Taylor said on Wednesday that Burrow will play more in the preseason than ever before.
#bengals HC Zac Taylor said QB Joe Burrow will play this preseason more than ever before. pic.twitter.com/sxhiahdg9g
– Ari Meirov (@mysportsupdate) July 23, 2025
During the 2024 preseason, Joe Barrow was still recovering from wrist surgery, which ended the 2023 season early. So, Burrow was a limited number of preseason participants. Athletics Paul Denner Jr. reported that Joe Burrow returned to pass nine times during the 2024 preseason. Of those, eight were opposed to Tampa Bay. Additionally, seven of his throws were released in under 2.2 seconds.
It’s safe to say that the preseason hasn’t been done much in recent years because of Joe Burrow. Two-time Pro Bowlers don’t need time to develop. Rather, he needs an offensive teammate and an extra person to be comfortable. This is a small adjustment the team is making to make Bengal successful in 2025. The team doesn’t want to be victimized by another late start.
