Joe Burrow trade rumors and not being happy in Cincinnati as a Bengals player are once again in the headlines. The Bengals will be heading into another crucial offseason, with Burrow marred by injuries for several games.
After three straight seasons without a playoff appearance, questions about the star quarterback growing frustrated in Cincinnati start swirling. Bengals offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. pushed back on that narrative during an appearance on Kay Adams’ ‘Up & Adams’ show.
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When asked about rumors that Burrow is unhappy and wants out of Cincinnati, Brown made it clear he is not buying it.
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“Yeah, I mean, I think at the end of the day, no matter where you are, when it cures all,” Brown said. “We haven’t these last three years. We haven’t been in the playoffs. And so, of course, that kind of buzz is going to come.”
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Brown also pointed to the business side of the NFL rumor mill.
“That’s part of the business, that’s part of PR, that’s part of drawing money and attention to whether it’s real or not,” he said. “I don’t think it’s real. Joe loves being a Bengal,” Brown added.
There’s no doubt that Burrow has transformed the Bengals since arriving as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. But with the franchise stuck in neutral with Super Bowl still being a distant dream for Burrow. Thus, the narrative has shifted toward whether the former LSU star could seek a way out.
Bengals’ de facto GM Duke Tobin still steering ship to build around Joe Burrow
The Cincinnati Bengals are not planning a dramatic shakeup despite disappointing seasons over the years. Director of player personnel Duke Tobin remains the franchise’s de facto general manager and continues to lead the effort to build around Joe Burrow.
During the NFL Combine in February, Tobin revealed that he has stayed in close contact with Burrow throughout the offseason.
“When I talk to him, he has thoughts,” Tobin said at the NFL Combine. “I want him to feel good about at least the reasons why.”
Burrow, however, has made it clear that simply running it back is not enough. After missing time with a torn wrist ligament in 2023 and turf toe in 2025, the quarterback is concerned over Bengals’ direction.
“We want to be competing for championships every year,” Burrow said on Dec. 31. “We don’t want to be in the spot that we’re in now. So something’s got to change.”
The Bengals have at least made smaller adjustments. Cincinnati reportedly expanded its analytics department by adding Trey LaBounty to a data science group already led by Sam Francis and Tyler Gross.
Edited by Prasen
