NFL Rumors: Bengals' Joe Burrow Didn't Travel for Falcons Game amid Calf Injury

Joe Burrow reportedly didn't make the trip to Atlanta for Friday night's preseason matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Falcons as he recovers from a calf strain, according to Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Burrow suffered the injury on July 27, and it remains unclear how far along he is in his recovery or what his timeline for return might be.

Burrow, 26, hadn't so much as appeared at a practice after suffering the injury until a joint practice between the Bengals and Green Bay Packers last week.

"The timeline is several weeks from when I said several weeks," head coach Zac Taylor told reporters at the time when asked when Burrow might return. "So, we'll just let that play out."

It's been an interesting offseason for Burrow. Outside of his current injury situation, he's in line for a contract extension that will surely top the five-year, $262.5 million deal Justin Herbert signed earlier in the offseason.

Burrow has established himself as one of the elite players at the quarterback position, throwing for 4,475 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last season, taking 41 sacks while completing 68.3 percent of his passes.

He led the Bengals to the AFC Championship Game for the second straight year, this time falling short to the Kansas City Chiefs. Expectations are high, and losing a preseason of preparation is likely eating away at Burrow.

"He's an elite competitor so any chance he gets to go against someone else, yeah, I'm sure it's frustrating for him to have to stand and have to watch," offensive coordinator Brian Callahan told reporters last week, "but that's what it is and he's going to have to swallow that frustration and he'll be ready for when it's time to be ready."

The Bengals will need him to be as they attempt to win the Super Bowl.