The Cincinnati Bengals “have not received any indication” that franchise quarterback Joe Burrow wants out, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Earlier this month, the two-time Pro Bowler cut a forlorn figure when he told reporters he was not having fun this season. He also alluded to some issues that went beyond the gridiron:
Fowler cited a Bengals source who believed Burrow was only experiencing a “bad day.”
The NFL insider added that “league executives I’ve spoken to see no chance Cincinnati ever considers trading him.”
This echoes what The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported on Dec. 14. She wrote then that Burrow “hasn’t asked for a trade or even hinted at stepping away.”
“Does that mean he’s thrilled with everything inside the Bengals’ building? No,” Russini said. “People close to him have made it clear that certain parts of the Bengals’ operation, with the smallest coaching and scouting staffs in the league, have previously frustrated him.”
Adam Schefter of ESPN posited on Sunday the dynamic with Burrow could evolve if the Bengals’ fortunes don’t improve in 2026.
The 29-year-old said all of the right things after Cincy’s 45-21 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 16. He went 25-of-32 for 309 yards and four touchdowns in the victory.
“I’m having fun playing football,” he told reporters. “Not playing football is not fun. Sitting in the locker room rehabbing all day, that’s not why you do it. This is why you do it right here.”
The Bengals are bound to approach this offseason with a level of urgency, even if Burrow isn’t applying any pressure to the front office behind the scenes.
Cincinnati is in the midst of a three-year playoff drought. The team has little to show as Burrow is performing at a high level and has a pair of highly paid wide receivers (Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins) in the prime of their careers.
Based on how they approached the trade demand of defensive end Trey Hendrickson, the Bengals would probably be unmoved in the event their best player did actual make public his desire for an exit.
But the organization will want to avoid that situation altogether, which means building a winner in 2026 that encourages him to stick around.