Joe Burrow's expectations this season are clear. He wants to win. But on top of that, he'll have his personal goals too. Many have tipped the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback to make a run at MVP this season and potentially put up numbers that rival his career-high 2024 season.
Coming off his turf toe injury from last year, Burrow will hope to recapture some of his best form as he has had a long time to recover and seems to be fully healthy heading into the 2026 season. So long as Burrow can stay healthy, everything points towards him having an MVP-calibre season for the Bengals this year.
Joe Burrow's rushing ability is slept on
Burrow is known primarily for being a pocket passer. He's one of the most accurate and intelligent quarterbacks in the NFL, and has a great record for successful reads and decision making. Last season, Burrow had to rely on his pocket passing ability when he came back from injury, as he lost his mobility, but this year is different.
Joe is an underrated rusher as far as QBs in the NFL are concerned. He has the ability to scramble out of the pocket whilst under pressure, and either run for the first down or evade defenders to make a throw downfield when the play breaks down. The play that comes to mind is the deep ball to Ja'Marr Chase against San Francisco in 2023, when he had to evade every ounce of pressure before making the perfect throw downfield.
Burrow himself spoke this week about how he's looking forward to being more mobile again and using his legs to help make plays. He said in his most recent press conference:
"I’m excited to break that out again. Last season I certainly couldn’t when I came back, and that’s a big part of my game. It was a good experience last year, figuring out how to play without that, and so I can pull that out if I need to, and I’m sure I will at some point in the future…football is a physical game."
#Bengals QB Joe Burrow says he’s excited to bring back his scrambling and movement ability, something he wasn’t able to do last year while returning from toe surgery.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 9, 2026
"My legs are a big part of my game." https://t.co/O21ddGuiaR pic.twitter.com/o2CnqcIpCo
"My legs are a big part of my game. "Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals.
Based on his recent comments about using his legs, and the fact that this season of all, Burrow seems more energised and motivated, we may see a much more mobile Joe than ever before. I, for one, would love to see that, as he can extend plays longer and longer, which makes for unbelievable viewing. Plus, I'm sure his fantasy managers would be grateful too!
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