Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson was effusive with his praise of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow after the teams' joint practice Aug. 20 near Paycor Stadium.
"He's like a surgeon back there, from my perspective at least," Johnson said. "He's got great pocket awareness. He can dissect defenses in a hurry. He recognizes coverages. He's able to distribute the ball. And then he trusts the guys that he's got on the perimeter as well.
"We know the two guys on the outside − they're probably the best duo in the business right now. He gives them a chance to make plays. This'll be a great test for our defense right now with where we are and what we're doing coverage-wise, to face an opponent like that. (Talking to) J.T. Barrett, he was teammates
with Joe at Ohio State. There's some shared history there. He speaks very highly of who Joe is as a person as well."
Barrett, the Bears' quarterbacks coach since 2025, and Burrow were teammates for the Buckeyes from 2015 to 2017. Burrow served as Barrett's backup at OSU before transferring to LSU and winning a Heisman Trophy and national title with the Tigers.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Bears coach Ben Johnson says Joe Burrow is 'like a surgeon back there'
