Joe Burrow and Mike Brown (Photos via Getty Images)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow went against the wishes of Mike Brown last year, the longtime NFL owner revealed on Monday.

Mike Brown touched base on several topics while speaking with reporters on Monday. This included Joe Burrow’s health, the inability to reach an extension with Tee Higgins and the team’s commitment to extending Ja’Marr Chase.

Some fans may recall a viral clip last September showing Burrow and Brown driving around together on a golf cart. The 2020 first-round pick had a calf injury and was questionable for the team’s Week 3 home game against the Los Angeles Rams.

When asked about that conversation by Caleb Noe of WCPO, Brown admitted that he ordered Burrow to play it safe and sit out in Week 3. But a determined Burrow went against his owner’s demands and played anyway:

“I try to stay away enough that I don’t get in the way. I don’t want to be a problem for the coaches…in that particular moment, I overstepped and did a dumb thing. I was convinced he shouldn’t play…I went out there to tell him he wasn’t gonna play. I was gonna make sure he wasn’t gonna play, whereupon he played.”

The Bengals were 0-2 at the time and essentially in a must-win situation. Joe Burrow courageously played through the injury and completed 26 passes for yards in the 19-16 Cincinnati win.

Unfortunately, Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury that required surgery in a November game against the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens. Burrow’s season with a 66.8 completion percentage for 2,309 yards and 15 touchdowns against six interceptions.

Cincinnati still finished the season 9-8, but all three of their AFC North foes recorded double-digit wins to qualify for the playoffs.

Joe Burrow & Bengals Open 2024 vs. Patriots

The Bengals have been notoriously slow starters in the Joe Burrow era, starting out 0-2 in each of the last two years. The slow start in 2023 proved costly and kept them out of the postseason, so it’s imperative that they avoid another here in 2024.

Cincinnati will begin its 2024 campaign with a home contest against the rebuilding New England Patriots, who are entering year one of the post-Bill Belichick era. After that, the toughest contest of 2024 awaits as Cincy will travel to Kansas City for a road contest against Patrick Mahomes and the defending champion Chiefs.

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