Joe Burrow keeps getting dragged into the same argument: where does he really belong among the NFL’s elite quarterbacks? The availability questions never seem to go away, and that has led plenty of fans to wonder whether he belongs in the top-five conversation at all.
Micah Parsons isn’t buying the doubt.
On the latest episode of his podcast, the Green Bay Packers star spoke about the Bengals quarterback and made it clear he sees a player who can go toe-to-toe with anybody when he’s healthy and rolling. Parsons said there’s a reason Burrow is ranked so highly, even with the injury history hanging over him.
That opinion carries some weight because Parsons has actually lined up against Burrow once, during the 2024 season, and Burrow had one of those games that reminds everyone why the conversation exists in the first place. He carved up the Cowboys defense, going 33-for-44 for 369 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
Ja'Marr Chase was right there with him, catching 14 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns. Parsons didn’t register a sack in the game, and Cincinnati walked away with a 27-20 win.
Burrow’s 2024 season was the kind that makes the praise easy to understand. He finished with 4,918 passing yards and 43 passing touchdowns, both league highs, while completing 70.6% of his throws. He didn’t win MVP, likely because the Bengals missed the postseason, but the year still reinforced his standing as one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks.
The frustration, of course, is that the greatness keeps getting interrupted. Burrow’s 2025 season ended after a gruesome turf toe injury that sidelined him for nearly three months, adding another chapter to the ongoing availability debate.
Even so, the Bengals are still chasing the kind of run that would make all of this feel different. After deep playoff pushes in 2021 and 2022, Cincinnati believes this season may be its best shot yet, with a much-improved defense, a fortified offensive line and the same offensive weapons around Burrow. The goal remains the same: bring the city its first championship in franchise history.
In Other News...
Bengals Final Roster Leaves Two Thin Spots Fans Will Watch Closely
The Bengals have set their 53-man roster for the regular season, and the final cutdown brought a few decisions that will shape the early part of the year. Landon Robinson made the team, Ke'Shawn Williams earned both a wide receiver spot and return duties, and Josh Newton found his way onto the roster after Ja'Sir Taylor was placed on injured reserve. Those moves helped clarify the back end of the roster while also showing how much the coaching staff values versatility in a few key spots.
Even with the roster now official, there are still a couple of areas fans will keep an eye on once the games start. Linebacker depth looks thin, and running back depth is another spot that could be tested before long. The good news for Cincinnati is that the overall makeup still points to a team with plenty of upside on both sides of the ball, even if a few of the margins remain tighter than ideal. [Read more 🡒]
Former Bengals Cut Is Suddenly Worth Watching In Detroit
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The Lions appear ready to use Saylors as the backup behind Jahmyr Gibbs, and Dan Campbell has already shown confidence in him as the next man up if Isiah Pacheco is unavailable. For Bengals fans, it is the kind of familiar development that can linger a little longer than it should, especially when a former cut suddenly looks like a useful piece somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Practice Squad Decisions Put A Few Familiar Names Back In Play
The Bengals added five players to their practice squad, continuing to reshape the depth chart behind the active roster as the season moves on. Among the new names are quarterback Josh Johnson and tight end Tanner Hudson, both of whom bring familiarity to the organization, along with defensive end Garmon Randolph, cornerback Trikweze Bridges and tackle Blake Freeland as Cincinnati looks to keep enough experienced bodies available for the weekly grind.
Johnsons career path has taken him through plenty of NFL stops, while Hudson has already shown he can carve out a role as a pass-catching tight end when given the chance. Their return gives the Bengals some added insurance at positions where injuries and short-term roster churn can quickly change the picture, and the current practice squad now reflects that blend of familiar veterans and developmental pieces the team wants on hand as the stretch run approaches. [Read more 🡒]