Joe Burrow on looming contract extension: 'The last thing I'm thinking about'

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Joe Burrow practiced with no restrictions this week and there seems to be no doubt that the Bengals quarterback will start the season opener after missing almost all of training camp.

But Burrow also wanted folks to chill on the contract rumors. Whether sides reach a new deal by Sunday — and it’s not a deadline — has no impact on whether he plays against the Browns.

“That’s the last thing I’m thinking about,” Joe Burrow told reporters. “I’m worried about beating the Browns right now. I mean it comes when it comes. I’m not worried about it or anything.”

He really is worried about beating the Browns. Although Burrow is one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL, he has yet to dominate Cleveland. In fact, he has a 1-4 record against the Browns. Cleveland star Myles Garrett sacked Burrow three times last season.

Myles Garrett terrorized Joe Burrow on the field last season. He sacked the Bengals quarterback three times. The Browns and Bengals open the season against each other this Sunday. (Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports)

So here’s why the contract seems to be intertwined with his health status. Let’s go back to late July, as the Bengals and every other team were opening their training camps. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert agreed to a $262.5 million contract extension. And by yearly salary, Herbert became the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL as he bested Lamar Jackson by $500K a year.

Meanwhile, Burrow and the Bengals also had started contract talks. Burrow and Herbert were members of the same draft class. The Bengals selected Burrow, who’d just led LSU to the national title, with the top pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. The Chargers opted for Herbert, the former Oregon star, at pick six. It stands to reason that Burrow’s deal will be more lucrative than Herbert’s extension. After all, Burrow led the Bengals to the Super Bowl in 2021. And Cincinnati was a late field goal away from another Super Bowl berth this past season.

The Joe Burrow extension felt imminent back in July. But after Burrow strained his right calf, the contract talk seemed to go on the back burner. Then came the conspiracy theories that hinted the quarterback was missing time as a protest.

“That’s gonna come,” Joe Burrow said of the extension. “I’m going to keep playing well. I feel great about the organization and everybody in the locker room and in the coaching staff. And so, you know, that’s the icing on the cake to me. I’m just excited to be out here.”