Hayden Hurst’s first takeaway with Bengals is all about Joe Burrow

The new Bengals TE says Joe Burrow is the “real deal.”

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The Cincinnati Bengals expect big things from free-agent addition Hayden Hurst in 2022 after bringing him aboard to replace C.J. Uzomah.

And Hurst, in turn, seems to expect big things from his new quarterback.

Hurst, who says he’s learning his fifth offense in as many years, is thrilled to have somebody like Joe Burrow leading the attack because of what it brings out in him.

“He’s the real deal,” Hurst said, according to Fox 19’s Joe Danneman. “You know, he captains the ship. Like I said, whatever coverage he sees, he’s checking into certain things. As a professional, it just helps me be on my Ps and Qs. I gotta know the ins and outs of that playbook.”

A first-round pick in 2018, Hurst has yet to have that major breakout season statistically, but on paper, he’s the unquestioned TE1 with intriguing upside. As he says in the interview below, the fact he gets to play with potential All-Pro wideouts on either side of him should make his job easier.

Burrow, who stuck behind after practice on the same day to run extra sprints, clearly has an impact on new arrivals from Day 1.

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