Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Burrow has played just two NFL games and already looks like a star in the making.  

However, individual accolades are not what he is focused on right now. Instead, he wants to win.

"We lost," he said following Thursday's 35-30 defeat at the hands of the Cleveland Browns, per Bengals reporter Marisa Contipelli. "That's the only thing that matters. We have to find a way to win games."

He certainly doesn't have much experience losing after playing collegiately for powerhouses Ohio State and LSU. That reality started to hit home following an 0-2 start to the 2020 campaign.

"This might [be] the only time in [my] sporting career I've lost two in a row," he said, per Jay Morrison of The Athletic. "It doesn't feel very good. Losing is unacceptable."

Burrow’s first career TD pass 🚨

The No. 1 pick came to play

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/SKIuHgGbno

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 18, 2020

Burrow threw for 316 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions in the defeat while adding 19 rushing yards. He did it all while under constant duress behind a poor offensive line. Pro Football Focus noted he had an average of just 2.40 seconds to throw during Thursday's contest.

By comparison, Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield had 3.38 seconds on average while putting up worse individual numbers (219 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception).

Mayfield was impressed enough to say of his counterpart, "The hype is real," per Jake Trotter of ESPN.

Burrow even earned praise from LeBron James:

Burrow is SPECIAL! He has the “IT” for sure.

— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 18, 2020

"We're 0-2," Burrow said when informed of the King's tweet, per Ben Baby of ESPN. "That's all that matters."

He will have a chance for his first NFL win in Week 3 when he faces a Philadelphia Eagles squad that lost its opener to the Washington Football Team.

Fantasy football managers already in need of a quarterback in Week 2 may have found their man on Thursday Night Football. 

Joe Burrow's astounding usage by the Cincinnati Bengals will make him a player to target immediately if he's still available on wires in your league. 

Consider the rookie quarterback attempted 61 passes against the Cleveland Browns in Thursday's 35-30 loss, the second-most in NFL history by a rookie. His 37 completions, however, are the most by a first-year player in league history. Along the way, Burrow recorded 316 passing yards and three touchdowns without an interception. 

Sure, there was plenty of garbage time, and the quarterback's usage may fluctuate a bit depending on the game situation, but there's no denying the comfort Cincinnati has in letting him air it out. Even if the Bengals may not win too many games this season, the rookie will get plenty of reps as long as he stays healthy.

Burrow is rostered in 71 percent of Yahoo Sports leagues. If he's not available as a free agent, don't try to overspend to get him. There are still plenty of solid options right now, and it's too early in the season to panic—even in dynasty leagues.

Thursday's performance, on the other hand, showed that the quarterback may be sticking around for a while. 

The Bengals will also face a much tougher defense in Week 3 when they travel to play the Philadelphia Eagles. Week 4 against the Jacksonville Jaguars at home provides an intriguing matchup, though. 

Only fantasy teams in desperate need of a new option should be starting Burrow without hesitation at this point. For all others, he's a matchup-dependent quarterback until proven otherwise. 

Cincinnati Bengals president Mike Brown told Geoff Hobson of the team's official website that he will not attend his team's Thursday Night Football road game against the Cleveland Browns due to concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I'm the age I am and I check all the boxes and I'm told it's foolish to do it," the 85-year-old Brown told Hobson. "It comes down to a decision and maybe it's time to start doing stuff like this. I'm just at the age I have to go about life a little differently."

The Bengals have played 805 regular-season and 19 playoff games since the team's NFL debut in 1968, and Brown has been there for every one.

He missed one preseason game against the Detroit Lions on Aug. 2, 1991, to be with his dying father, ex-team president and founder Paul Brown.

Per ESPN's Ben Baby, the Bengals will still have a representative from the Brown family at Cleveland's FirstEnergy Stadium on Thursday in executive vice president Katie Blackburn, who is Brown's daughter.

Bengals club director of strategy and engagement Elizabeth Blackburn, Brown's granddaughter, will also be present.

"When the streak started, Katie would have been about three years old and Elizabeth was far, far in the future," Brown told Hobson.

The irony of the streak ending against Cleveland is not lost on Brown.

The Cleveland Browns are named after Paul Brown, who was their first coach from 1946-1962. He was also the team's general manager and part-owner.

"It was going to be somebody," Mike Brown said regarding the opponent following the streak's end. "The fact it's Cleveland and on a Thursday night is all sort of ironic and not normal."

Brown told Hobson he still plans to watch the game despite not being able to attend in person.

"I'll get excited at moments. Get upset at moments," Brown said. "I'll get joyful at times. I hope it's at the end when that occurs."

The Bengals and Browns both started their year with losses. No. 1 overall draft pick Joe Burrow nearly led Cincinnati to a comeback win against the Los Angeles Chargers, while the Browns lost 38-6 to the defending AFC North champion Baltimore Ravens.

NFL Network will televise the Bengals vs. Browns matchup, which is slated for Thursday at 8:20 p.m. ET.

Cincinnati Bengals rookie Joe Burrow is a tough self-evaluator.

Burrow told reporters after Sunday's 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers he deserved a "D" grade for his performance, citing one incomplete pass to A.J. Green that would've been a touchdown if it had found the mark.

The defining image from Burrow's debut will be his meme-worthy reaction to Randy Bullock missing the game-tying field goal.

Bengals kicker missed a game-tying FG 😬 @brgridiron pic.twitter.com/N3O4IqDkdZ

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 13, 2020

The 2019 Heisman Trophy winner didn't post gaudy numbers, going 23-of-36 for 193 yards and one interception.

A learning curve is to be expected, though. The COVID-19 pandemic denied Burrow a traditional training camp and preseason, which would've better acclimatized him to the NFL. His interception in the fourth quarter was the kind of thing he might have pulled off in college but can't get away with now.

"thank you" - king mel probs @MelvinIngram | #BoltUp pic.twitter.com/gaMvfFfnmX

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) September 13, 2020

Cincinnati's offensive line, shaping up to be one of the worst in the NFL, did Burrow few favors, too.

Chagers with 3 QB pressures on 8 Burrow dropbacks, per NFL Next Gen. Bengals' offensive line struggling early.

— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) September 13, 2020

Burrow did well to lead the offense down the field and into position to force overtime, especially since it was the Bengals' first drive after his turnover. One loss certainly won't be enough to shake the fanbase's belief in the No. 1 overall draft pick.

Brighter days are ahead for Burrow and the Bengals. Sunday's defeat showed there's probably still plenty of heartache ahead before the franchise turns the corner.

Cincinnati Bengals rookie quarterback Joe Burrow is one of seven team captains for the 2020 season, per a team announcement made Wednesday morning.

Wide receiver A.J. Green, running back Giovani Bernard, safety Vonn Bell, linebacker Josh Bynes, safety Shawn Williams and punter Kevin Huber round out the group.

As ESPN's Ben Baby noted, teammates have complimented Burrow's leadership.

"To be honest, I think what popped off the most about Joe Burrow is his leadership and how he takes the huddle," running back Joe Mixon said. "He's a very confident guy. He goes about things so professionally. I think he does a great job leading."

The Bengals' confidence in Burrow has been comforting for the ex-LSU star, who spoke about his teammates' belief in him in July.

 "It makes you feel good for sure," he said, per Baby. "But I'm going to have to continue to do my job. If I don't play well, that all goes out the window. That's what I'm focused on right now is playing really, really well and doing my job."

Burrow, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, will start his first game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET.

The Athens, Ohio, native is coming off a stellar 2019 college football season where he led LSU to a perfect 15-0 record and a national championship over defending title winners Clemson.

He completed 76.3 percent of his passes for 60 touchdowns and threw for 12.5 yards per pass attempt.

Fresh off signing a four-year, $48 million extension with the Cincinnati Bengals, running back Joe Mixon can't imagine himself playing anywhere else, nor does he want to.

The combination of his personal success with the Bengals and the expected stardom of quarterback Joe Burrow has the tailback hoping he spends his entire career in Cincinnati. 

"I really don't think [Burrow is] your typical rookie," Mixon told reporters Wednesday. "He's definitely going to be a great guy here in this league for years to come, and I hope I can finish my career here with him."

Mixon is still just 24 years old, so it's fair to say the Bengals hope his career doesn't end any time soon. That the tailback wants to remain in Cincinnati for the long haul should elate Cincinnati fans given what Mixon has already done.

The Oklahoma product has rushed for more than 1,110 yards and five touchdowns in each of his last two seasons for a career average of 4.2 yards per carry. Considering the Bengals finished with the seventh-worst overall offense in the NFL last season, Mixon's ability to continue gaining ground is admirable. Especially when defenses know he's the most dangerous part of the Bengals' offense. 

Now that Burrow has entered the fold as the No. 1 overall pick last April, there should be a bit more balance going forward which can only make Mixon more effective. 

"Honestly, this offense is going to be special," Mixon said. "It has a lot of potential to do a lot of special things."

Mixon's extension and Burrow's rookie deal are set to expire after the 2024 season, assuming the quarterback's fifth-year option is picked up. By then, the club should have a fair sense of where the team is heading and whether or not they feel they can become—or remain—contenders. 

If so, both can expect new deals. Mixon will be just 28 years old while Burrow turns 27. There would seemingly be little reason to break up the duo if they've proven their worth.

That's good news for Mixon who doesn't have plans to play anywhere else. 

"I really didn't want to go anywhere," Mixon said. "I love our fans; I love my teammates; and upstairs, they definitely value me in a way that a lot of people won't. Like I said, I wanted to show my loyalty here and finish my career here. Hopefully in a few years I'll be able to have another [contract]."

 

Running back Joe Mixon agreed to a four-year, $48 million contract extension with the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Full details on the #Bengals deal for RB Joe Mixon’s 4-year, $48M deal:
— $10M signing bonus. $1.3M base in 2020.
— $8M base in 2021.
— $8M in 2022.
— $9.4M in 2023.
— Club option for $9.6M in 2024.
— $500K each year in playtime and $200K offseason workout bonus each year.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 1, 2020

Shortly before the news broke, Mixon dropped a teaser to fans on Twitter:

pic.twitter.com/Mckx5gsEKo

— ⚡️Primetime!!!⚡️ (@Joe_MainMixon) September 1, 2020

The 24-year-old, a second-round pick in 2017, was due to hit free agency in 2021. 

Duke Tobin, the Bengals director of player personnel, told 700 WLW's Lance McAlister in May the team was open to discussing a new contract (via Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper):

"Joe's obviously a guy that's shown a lot of ability. He's in a year that he can be extended, and he is a guy that we visited with. We'll go through those discussions and see if there is a fit or a match for a long-term contract with him, obviously a guy we value quite a bit. The great thing about Joe is he goes about it the right way. ... He's the type of guy you want to lock up to a long-term deal. We'll see if we can find the commonality to get that done over time here."

Tobin alluded to the delicate balance NFL teams attempt to strike when working out extensions with their starting running backs. General managers typically want to keep the player around but are wary of committing too much money on the basis that their value could quickly diminish in the years ahead.

Todd Gurley is the most notable example. He signed a four-year extension in July 2018 that included $45 million guaranteed. Not even two full years later, the Los Angeles Rams released him amid concerns about an "arthritic component to his knee."

However, that didn't stop the Carolina Panthers from handing Christian McCaffrey a four-year, $64 million extension that includes almost $38.2 million guaranteed.

While he wasn't in a position to eclipse McCaffrey's record-setting $16 million average annual salary, Mixon's asking price might have gone up based on what the 2019 All-Pro received from the Panthers.

The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. reported in April the Bengals were planning for a potential holdout from the Oklahoma product in the absence of a long-term deal.

Following up on the situation in June, Dehner wondered whether the financial ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic left him stuck in an unenviable position:

"For Mixon and his camp, this will be about understanding his value and figuring out a way to land in whatever guaranteed money he can find. If you still enter this thinking McCaffrey or Elliott in the $15 million per year range is within reason, that will be a non-starter. Half of that is probably a more likely starting point.

"The reality is that teams won't have that type of money to spend on the least valuable position in the game, especially when his leverage is minimal to nonexistent."

Through his first three years, Mixon has looked like a capable every-down back but hasn't enjoyed a true breakthrough.

He ran for 1,168 yards and eight touchdowns while catching 43 passes for 296 yards and one score in 2018. Rather than building on that, he went backward in 2019. Although he eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark again (1,137), his yards per carry fell from 4.9 to 4.1 and he had eight fewer receptions despite appearing in two more games.

Joe Mixon’s best plays from an 1,137-yard rushing season! 🐯@Joe_MainMixon pic.twitter.com/RteTFJfNXC

— NFL (@NFL) March 15, 2020

Mixon's somewhat underwhelming 2019 could be blamed partially on his supporting cast.

A.J. Green missed the entire season, leaving the Bengals without a viable No. 1 threat in the passing game, while the offensive line ranked 26th in adjusted line yards, per Football Outsiders. Cincinnati selected Alabama offensive tackle Jonah Williams with the No. 11 pick in 2019, only to see him undergo shoulder surgery before playing a single snap.

Now, Green is healthy again and the Bengals fortified the offense through the draft by adding Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins.

To some extent, Mixon could end up regretting signing his extension when he did in the event an improved offense helps lift him to the Pro Bowl.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon has been unavailable in recent practices because of migraines.   

Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Mixon wasn't on the practice field Wednesday, but there's "optimism" he can be back soon. 

Mixon, 24, had an excellent 2018 season for the Bengals, rushing for 1,168 yards and eight scores. He also caught 43 passes for 296 yards and another touchdown, firmly establishing himself as the team's feature back. 

He rushed for 1,137 yards and five scores in 2019, making him one of the few bright spots on Cincinnati's offense. 

Injuries have already been a storyline in Mixon's career, however. He suffered an ankle sprain in the second half of the team's Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks last season, missing the rest of the game. It didn't keep him out any additional games, however. 

He also missed two games in his rookie season with a concussion and dealt with knee issues in 2018 that cost him two games. While he's never missed significant time because of injuries, the smaller knocks are starting to add up.

And the Bengals, quite simply, are a less effective offense without their feature back. Mixon's presence puts less pressure on the Bengals to beat teams through the air, keeping Cincy's offense balanced. Any absence from Mixon is less than ideal. 

While he's out of action, veteran Giovani Bernard will take on a larger workload, while Trayveon Williams could see a major bump in carries as well. The sooner Mixon is able to return the better, however.

Cincinnati Bengals rookie Joe Burrow empathizes with Black people in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Many Americans have protested against police brutality and systemic racism in recent months following the killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd by police officers. The shooting of Blake has deepened their anguish, something to which Burrow alluded:

How can you hear the pain Black people are going through and dismiss it as nothing. How can you hear the pain and respond with anything other than “I stand with you.”

— Joey Burrow (@JoeyB) August 27, 2020

Thursday's comments echoed what Burrow said in May when the protests began:

The black community needs our help. They have been unheard for far too long. Open your ears, listen, and speak. This isn’t politics. This is human rights.

— Joey Burrow (@JoeyB) May 29, 2020

Police in Kenosha responded to an alleged domestic disturbance Sunday. Blake was at the scene because he was breaking up a fight between two women, according to his family's attorney, Ben Crump.

A video showed two officers following Blake with their guns drawn as he was walking toward the driver's door of a gray SUV. As he opened the door, one officer grabbed Blake's tank top, and the police opened fire. Crump said Blake's three children were inside the car during the shooting.

Blake is paralyzed from the waist down as a result of the shooting after the bullets severed his spinal cord and fractured his vertebrae.

The Detroit Lions canceled practice Tuesday to demand change:

We won't be silent pic.twitter.com/u9FMCYcKez

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 25, 2020

The Milwaukee Bucks went a step further, refusing to take the court Wednesday for their NBA playoff game against the Orlando Magic. The NBA subsequently postponed all three postseason games scheduled for Wednesday.

The WNBA postponed its games as well after teams indicated they wouldn't play.

"We're not just basketball players. We're so much more than that."

Ariel Atkins with a powerful statement on the unified decision to not play tonight. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/Eg96KMqsFh

— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) August 26, 2020

The demonstration has spread to MLS and MLB as well, as both leagues rescheduled games because of player protests.

The NFL regular season opens Sept. 10.

Jean Odney Alexandre, the father of Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mackensie Alexander, was found alive Thursday after going missing earlier this week.

The Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office announced Alexandre was in good health after walking up to the ranger station at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park in Florida:

**********************UPDATE*********************
MR. ALEXANDRE HAS BEEN LOCATED!!!
AT 7:15 THIS MORNING, HE WALKED UP TO THE RANGER STATION AT THE KISSIMMEE PRAIRIE PRESERVE STATE PARK. HE IS IN GOOD HEALTH AND WILL BE TURNED OVER TO FAMILY MEMBERS.

— Okeechobee Sheriff (@OkeeSheriff) August 27, 2020

Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Alexander left Bengals camp Tuesday to help search for his father after he was reported missing while on a berry-picking trip with another man in Okeechobee County. 

Per ESPN's Ben Baby, Alexander was released from custody Tuesday after being arrested on a battery charge stemming from an incident at a man's home:

"An arrest report obtained Wednesday by ESPN says Alexander, 26, and another man, Evins Clement, arrived with law enforcement at the home of the victim to 'discuss an incident that had transpired the day prior.'

"After the enforcement officer left, Alexander and Clement attempted to get information regarding the incident, according to the report. When the man would not get in their vehicle, the report says, Clement held the man down as Alexander allegedly hit the man in the face, which caused minor injuries."

Baby noted Alexander and Clement were released from custody after posting $2,000 bail.

Alexander's attorneys, Brian Pakett and Stacey Richman, told Sports Illustrated's James Rapien that Alexander was a "very, very concerned son" when he allegedly confronted the man who left his father behind.

"He loves his father, and that's what this is about," Pakett and Richman said. "That is his sole concern in the matter is the well-being of his father. He's been fully cooperative with the police."

Per Pelissero, Alexander and other family members are on their way to see Alexandre after he was found alive.

Alexander joined the Bengals in March when he signed a one-year, $4 million contract in free agency. He spent the previous four years with the Minnesota Vikings.