The greatest NFL paradox? A franchise quarterback’s instinct to conquer versus a coach’s primal urge to protect him. For Cincinnati, this tension isn’t theoretical—it’s woven into the DNA of the Zac Taylor–Joe Burrow era. One man (Burrow) carries the scars of 196 career sacks; the other (Taylor) carries the weight of a city’s Super Bowl dreams. “Do I love seeing that? No,” Taylor admitted after Burrow’s adrenaline-fueled scramble-turned-17-yard-sack in Monday’s preseason bout against Washington. “At the same time, he’s learning what he can and can’t do. That’s why he’s playing in the preseason. To feel what it’s like in a game.” But it all came after the injury setback.
The admission was vintage Taylor: pragmatic yet paternal. It framed his post-game injury updates—OG Lucas Patrick is “dinged” (no specifics), and OT Cody Ford’s issue isn’t serious (“Could’ve played in a real game”)—against the backdrop of his QB’s calculated risks. While backups like Mitchell Tinsley dazzled (5 catches, 73 yards, 2 TDs), the real drama centered on Burrow’s nine-play slog through pressure. A microcosm of his career: 62 yards, a TD to Charlie Jones, two vicious sacks, and the collective gasp of a fanbase that’s seen this movie before.
“Still got some kinks to work out,” Burrow told ESPN’s Laura Rutledge post-game, dissecting his errors like a surgeon. “I had two balls on the ground. Missed the first third down. Took a bad sack… Good to make those mistakes in preseason.” His calm was almost poetic—a chess master (he keeps a board in his locker) analyzing moves while the city holds its breath.
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