CINCINNATI — Joe Burrow walked into the Cincinnati Bengals locker room and took a seat at the locker nearest the entrance.
His microwave and chess board to his left, 89 teammates' cubbies to his right, Burrow grabbed his phone.
He’d just completed what he called a “pretty damn good” first practice of training camp, his throws hitting their targets and his movement unhindered by the ACL and MCL tear recoveries of the 2021 offseason or the appendix rupture of 2022.
On one hand, his smooth day felt expected: Burrow is a very good quarterback, teaming up with very good skill players, entering his fourth season with the same staff and system.