Joe Burrow Feeling 'Winning-Level Football' From Bengals Additions as Opening Preseason Game Approaches

Joe Burrow seemingly can't stop gushing about the importance of Dexter Lawrence and all of the new additions for Cincinnati this offseason.

The Bengals' top star sat down with Kay Adams on Up & Adams this week, and he dove into all of the pieces fitting together in a championship puzzle.

"Yeah, of course, of course he's part of that," Burow noted on the show about Lawrence's championship impact. "But also, a lot of the guys that we've added this off-season: Boye (Mafe), Jonathan (Allen), Bryan Cook, getting DJ Turner back, Dax Hill back, Jalen Davis on the inside. We've got a lot of guys that we feel confident in that can go out and produce and play winning-level football."

Puzzle Coming Together

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws a pass during Bengals practice at the Kettering Practice Fields in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Thursday, August 6, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Burrow is slated to suit up in the preseason opener on Thursday night for his first game action since closing the 2025 season in January.

Lawrence is firing out of the gates and playing alongside him as plenty of Bengals' starters get a taste of live ball against Detroit. The big fella has had fun prodding his new offensive leader in the early days of training camp.

On Day 1, Lawrence came at "the king" a little bit on and off the field. He's disrupting plenty of passing reps and had a little something to declare before that impact even started.

"I wanna see it today, Mr. Burrow," Dan Hoard noted Lawrence said on Day 1 before practice started.

"You can see it every day, brother," Burrow responded.

It's all in good fun as the chemistry and on-field execution grows throughout the rest of this month and beyond.

"Somebody has to challenge the King of the Jungle, as they say," said Lawrence after that practice. "Somebody has to keep him on edge for him to get better and grow. That competitive spirit won't stop. And with a guy like that, I know he's going to bring it. It's going to be fun."

Check out the full clip from Up & Adams below as Cincinnati enters an off day before the first preseason bout on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET inside Paycor Stadium:

Joe Burrow just set me straight on the talent on @Bengals defense.

NOT JUST DEXTER LAWRENCE is the message. Received! 🗣️🗣️🗣️@UpAndAdamsShow pic.twitter.com/i79kIGc3o6
— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) August 11, 2026

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