Three best 'Hard Knocks' storylines for the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
On Monday, HBO and NFL Films announced that "Hard Knocks: In Season" is covering the AFC North during the 2024 season.
There are several juicy storylines in what will likely be the NFL's toughest division once again. Here are the three best storylines for the Cincinnati Bengals:
1. Joe Burrow's comeback
When healthy, Burrow is one of the best quarterbacks in the league, throwing for 14,083 yards and 97 touchdowns across 52 games. However, he has struggled to stay on the field through his first four years in the NFL.
The No. 1 overall pick in 2020 tore his ACL and MCL during his rookie season and then suffered another season-ending injury (wrist) in 2023.
If Burrow can stay healthy for the 2024 season, the Bengals will have another shot at winning their first Super Bowl, while Burrow could become just the second player in NFL history (Chad Pennington) to be named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year twice.
2. Final ride with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins
The 2024 season feels like the last year that Burrow, Chase and Higgins will all be playing together.
Higgins requested a trade in March after revealing he had not spoken with the team about a long-term contract extension in about a year. He officially signed his franchise tender last weekend, meaning he'll play in Cincinnati this season, barring a trade.
However, it feels unlikely that the Bengals are going to give a big payday to both Higgins and Chase, who is also due for a contract extension entering year four of his rookie deal.
At the end of the day, it will likely be Chase who receives the new contract after registering 268 catches for 3,717 yards and 29 touchdowns since entering the league as the No. 5 overall pick in 2021.
The team must take advantage of what could be the final ride with its dominant offensive trio.
3. Will Bengals regret trading Joe Mixon?
Mixon has been a subject of trade rumors for the past couple of years, but Cincinnati felt it was time to move on from him this offseason, trading him to the Houston Texans for a 2024 seventh-round pick.
It won't be easy to replicate the production of the franchise's third all-time leading rusher, but the Bengals are hoping a combination of veteran running back Zack Moss and 2023 fifth-round pick Chase Brown will suffice.
It could turn out to be a disaster after the two rushed for a combined 973 yards and five touchdowns last season, but the two backs may prove to be the perfect complement to what could be one of the NFL's best pass attacks.
Want more articles like this? Follow Yardbarker on MSN to see more of our exclusive NFL content.
More must-reads:
Trending slideshow: The best players who never win a Super Bowl (Provided by Yardbarker)