The Cincinnati Bengals may be 2-0, but they were dealt some crushing news after their Week 2 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, as star quarterback Joe Burrow is going to miss three months after undergoing surgery on a toe injury. That has thrust backup quarterback Jake Browning into the action, and it will make life for head coach Zac Taylor much more difficult moving forward.
In Burrow’s absence, the Bengals are going to need the rest of their offense to step up and support Browning. One guy who did a great job of making himself available for his quarterback throughout his career was legendary wide receiver Chad Johnson, and he recently revealed that he still sends Taylor a hilarious two-word reminder, even though he’s been retired from the NFL for over a decade now.
Chad Johnson’s Two-Word Reminder to Zac Taylor
Johnson was selected in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Bengals, and he eventually turned himself into one of the most productive wide receivers of his generation. In 10 seasons with Cincinnati, Johnson was selected to six Pro Bowls, while also earning a pair of All-Pro First Team selections in 2005 and 2006. Johnson would spend the 2011 season with the New England Patriots before calling it a career and retiring.
While Johnson is known for his playmaking abilities on the field, his eccentric personality has also earned him quite a bit of attention. Anytime someone legally changes their last name to “Ochocinco” (in reference to his No. 85 jersey), you know they are going to do some wild things, and that has always been true with the Bengals legend.
One of Johnson’s more notorious stories involved him calling his coaches at random times late at night, only to say two words: “I’m open.” According to man himself, Johnson still does this, hilariously revealing that he will call Taylor at random times to let him know he’s open, before promptly hanging up on him before he can respond.
“Fun Fact: I still call Zac Taylor & tell him I’m open & hang up,” Johnson said in a post on X.
Bengals Looking for Their Playmakers to Step Up During Joe Burrow’s Absence
GettyBengals head coach Zac Taylor on the sideline during a game.
Part of what made Johnson so great was his fearless mentality, and that’s what the Bengals are going to be looking for from their playmakers now that Burrow is out. The good news for Browning as he takes over for Burrow is that he’s surrounded by one of the most potent offenses in the league. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are arguably the best wide receiver duo in the league, and Chase Brown has turned himself into a star at the running back position as well.
Cincinnati has a solid 2-0 cushion that they haven’t had in recent years, but they are going to have to keep on winning if they want to give Burrow a shot at returning and leading the team on a deep playoff run. The Bengals will have a shot to earn their third victory of the season in Week 3 against the Minnesota Vikings, who also won’t have their starting quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, on the field for this game. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon.
Bengals Legend Chad Johnson Shares Hilarious Zac Taylor Story