Joe Burrow has shed his knee brace -- at least for non-contact May practices -- but he hasn't let go of his team's heartbreaking loss in Super Bowl LVI.
Burrow spoke with reporters on Tuesday and made one point very clear: He's not content with how the 2021 season ended for his Bengals.
"I'm not going to accept losing," Burrow said, via FOX 19's Joe Danneman.
Burrow begins his team's trek toward repeating as AFC champions with this spring's workouts in Cincinnati, where he participated in Tuesday's session without extra protection for his surgically repaired knee. Burrow played 2021 with the brace after suffering the injury in 2020, but a year without a significant setback has him in a better place entering 2022.
"Obviously I've been grinding, but it's also been relaxing not having to worry about, 'Am I going to be ready for the season?'" Burrow said. "I can just focus on getting my body right, making sure I'm healthy and relaxing."
Burrow told reporters he doesn't anticipate wearing the brace during games, but has yet to come to a final decision on the matter. He didn't wear it Tuesday, and if he decides to go without it in 2022, it will be an encouraging sign for a quarterback who performed excellently even while wearing the device in 2021.
Burrow took the league by storm last season, powered an unlikely run to Super Bowl LVI for the Bengals and immediately commanded the respect of the rest of the league. The greatest hurdle facing him and the Bengals in 2022: avoiding disappointment.
The quarterback isn't looking to make major changes to his game, which proved to be stellar in 2021, instead focusing on refinements. Above all, it won't be Burrow who needs to be better in 2022, it'll be his teammates, specifically the linemen tasked with protecting him.
Cincinnati has invested accordingly this offseason. It'll be up to Burrow and the new additions to prove the changes worthwhile in what promises to be a rugged AFC in 2022.
Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is excited for the familiarity that comes from returning to a team, and he believes Cleveland has a shot at a championship after it improved on both sides of the ball.
The Ravens have been known for producing defenses ranked in the top 10 on a consistent basis, but after ranking 19th overall in defense and giving up a league-worst 4,742 passing yards last season, Baltimore is ready to get back to business.
The Browns and Njoku have reached an agreement in principle on a four-year, $56.75-million contract extension, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported on Friday, per a source.
Marcus Mariota spent enough time on the bench to learn he'd like to again become a starting quarterback in the NFL. He found such an opportunity in Atlanta, where rookie Desmond Ridder is also angling to start.
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation announced Friday that it has granted $100,000 each to Sandy Hook Promise and The Health Alliance for Violence Intervention (HAVI) in light of recent mass shootings.
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson took to Twitter on Friday in regards to his absence at OTAs, saying he will be there at some point ahead of a crucial fifth season.
New Steelers GM Omar Khan assured a 'smooth transition' from the era of Kevin Colbert, who learned under his wing for the past 20 seasons in Pittsburgh
After two years of late-season disappointment, Cardinals All-Pro safety Budda Baker is taking it upon himself to make sure Arizona doesn't get complacent in 2022.
So far, in the eyes of Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell, the No. 2 overall pick Aidan Hutchinson has been as advertised.
No Tyreek Hill, no problem. With the Pro Bowl receiver now with the Dolphins, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said "everybody" will be involved on the pass-catching side of things in 2022.
Known as the "Forgotten Four," Marion Motley, Woody Strode, Kenny Washington and Bill Willis reintegrated pro football in 1946, and have now been selected to share the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Ralph Hay Pioneer Award during enshrinement week.
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels declined on Thursday to comment to reporters on Colin Kaepernick's workout, stating that he does not discuss players who are not currently on roster.
© 2022 NFL Enterprises LLC. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. NFL footage © NFL Productions LLC.