CINCINNATI (AP) — Nine months after tearing both the ACL and MCL in his left knee, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow took his first snaps Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, who rallied to win 29-26 in a wild preseason finale for both teams.
In the fourth quarter, Reid Sinnett tossed a 43-yard TD pass to Kirk Merritt. Then, with 1:21 left, he scrambled on fourth-and-15 and found a leaping Chris Myarick in the corner of the end zone for a 34-yard TD to put the Dolphins ahead.
Burrow, the overall No. 1 pick in the 2020 draft, was greeted by a standing ovation and chants of “Joey, Joey” when he came out for the Bengals’ first offensive series. His first and only pass attempt was dropped by former LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase, who has had issues with drops this preseason. Burrow took three snaps before the Bengals were forced to punt.
Burrow was medically cleared in time for the opening of training camp on July 28 but had not yet played in a preseason game. He passed for 2,688 yards and 13 touchdowns last season prior to the injury in Week 10.
Sinnett started at quarterback for the Dolphins, who rested most of their starters on Sunday, including Tua Tagovailoa. Stinnett was 22 of 33 for 343 yards with two TDs and an interception.
Rookie running back Gerrid Doaks rushed for 41 yards on 14 carries with two touchdowns for Miami.
LONG WAY
Bengals rookie kicker Evan McPherson helped his chances of winning the starting job with a 57-yard field goal on the last play of the first half. If this were a regular-season game, it would have tied the longest field goal in franchise history. On Dec. 19, 2019, Randy Bullock nailed a 57-yarder, also against the Dolphins.
CRAZY PLAY
In the third quarter, Bengals receiver Stanley Morgan had a bubble screen pass bounce off his hands only to have it caught on the run by teammate Trent Taylor for a 45-yard reception to the Miami 1-yard line, setting up a go-ahead touchdown run by Jacques Patrick.
HOMECOMING
Doaks, who starred at the University of Cincinnati, scored first-half touchdowns on 3-yard and 1-yard runs. Doaks, drafted in the seventh round by Miami in 2020, rushed for more than 2,100 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Bearcats.
UP NEXT
The Dolphins and Bengals open the regular season on Sept. 12, when the Bengals host the Vikings and the Dolphins travel to New England.
