Joe Burrow’s August is supposed to be about football, not headlines off the field. But after Sunday’s Bengals training camp practice, it was a post-practice scene with Olivia Ponton that had people talking.
Burrow was seen sitting on the field with the model and influencer after practice, and the two were chatting together as the moment spread quickly across social media. It was one of their most public appearances together so far, and the first time Ponton has been seen at a Bengals training camp practice.
Neither Burrow nor Ponton has said anything publicly about their relationship, even as the sightings keep piling up. The pair have stayed mostly private despite being seen together often over the past two years.
The rumors first picked up major attention after the December 2024 burglary at Burrow’s Ohio home. Since then, the two have been photographed together at Kentucky Derby festivities, Fanatics events and other celebrity gatherings, but there has still been no public confirmation that they are dating.
This latest appearance stood out because it happened in a football setting, not on a red carpet or at some splashy event. Local reporters captured the moment after practice, and the photos quickly made the rounds online as fans reacted to seeing Ponton alongside Burrow at camp.
For Burrow, though, the real focus remains the Bengals’ season ahead. Cincinnati is trying to rebound after going 6-11 in 2025 and missing the playoffs for a third straight year. The regular season starts Sept. 13 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with the pressure again landing on Burrow to help push the franchise back into AFC contention.
Training camp has already brought plenty of attention, and Sunday’s practice added another memorable off-field moment to the mix. For now, the relationship between Burrow and Ponton remains undefined publicly, but their latest appearance together gave fans another look at one of the NFL’s most closely watched storylines.
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Protection issues have cropped up often enough to become a concern, with defensive players consistently finding ways to get into the backfield or work past blockers during practice. The encouraging part for the Bengals is that the run game seems to be moving in the right direction, with Chase Brown showing promise, but Burrows comfort remains the bigger question as camp progresses and the same offensive line is asked to hold up better than it has so far. [Read more 🡒]
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Ivey has already made the kind of impression that tends to matter in August, holding his own in practice against JaMarr Chase and Tee Higgins while continuing to push for a bigger role. For a secondary that still has questions to answer, the competition there feels worth watching, especially with Zac Taylor sounding determined to reset the tone after a rocky stretch and move into the season with a sharper edge. [Read more 🡒]