Overview
- Burrow said he "can't see" a scenario where he is not Cincinnati’s quarterback in 2026 and declared he plans to play for a long time.
- He will start the Bengals’ final three games despite playoff elimination and outside calls to sit after missing nine games with turf toe.
- Cincinnati is 4-10 and went 1-8 without Burrow this year, a slump that followed a shutout loss to Baltimore that sealed elimination.
- The Athletic reported an unannounced extension that keeps Zac Taylor under contract through 2027, and multiple outlets say Duke Tobin is viewed as secure.
- League metrics flagged a historically poor defense early under DC Al Golden, and reporting points to an offseason priority on defensive fixes with notable cap space available.