Joe Burrow's Future with Bengals Questioned by Adam Schefter if Cincy Loses in 2026

While Joe Burrow probably isn't going anywhere this offseason, the franchise quarterback's patience with the Cincinnati Bengals may not be infinite.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday on SportsCenter that Burrow has "made it very clear that he intends to be back in Cincinnati in 2026."

"The interesting part will be what happens if next season this team struggles again," Schefter said. "The questions that have come up here in recent weeks that Joe Burrow himself has raised are going to be even more accentuated in 2026 if this team doesn't perform up to expectations and doesn't win again."

Burrow's future in Cincinnati would've been a talking point regardless as it became increasingly clear the team would miss the playoffs for the third straight year. His press conference on Dec. 10, when he said he isn't having fun playing football, put a lot of people on alert.

In a Dec. 13 report, The Athletic's Dianna Russini threw some cold water on the situation. She cited a source who said that "everyone is being a little dramatic" and reported that Burrow "hasn't asked for a trade or even hinted at stepping away."

Still, the Bengals may have to fend off interest from teams who smell blood in the water.

The Miami Dolphins could be one such suitor. Schefter reported Saturday the Dolphins were prepared to send four first-round picks to Cincinnati in return for the No. 1 pick in 2020. That's notable when Tua Tagovailoa is potentially on the way out in South Florida.

The Bengals presumably won't budge unless Burrow gives them no other choice. Even then, Cincinnati has shown it's willing to play hardball with a disgruntled star player.

But the level of urgency within the organization should grow this spring because it can't take anything for granted with a quarterback as good as Burrow.