The Cincinnati Bengals head into Sunday’s season opener after an off-season full of twists. With a high-profile injury, a trial and a historic contract.

Arguably the biggest twist came as the NFL season kicked off on Thursday. With Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow agreeing to a mammoth contract extension. Making him the highest paid player in NFL history. Through a five-year $275 million contract, with $219.01 million guaranteed. Forget backing up the Brinks truck, the Bengals might need a barge for this deal.

Burrow’s new deal is a massive move for the Bengals. A team that often operated like a discount store during Mike Brown’s ownership era. The deal is a showcase of how the franchise has improved with Burrow. He helped guide the team to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1989. Along with a franchise first via back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances.

Meanwhile, Burrow is set to play on Sunday after suffering a calf injury during training camp. Leaving him unable to play during the preseason. Changing the plans for what Burrow and Bengals fans hoped would be a drama free preseason for him. After COVID-19 resulted in the 2020 preseason’s cancellation. Burrow spent much of the 2021 offseason recovering from an ACL injury. Then he was sidelined during last year’s training camp after having his appendix removed.

Speaking of drama, Bengals running back Joe Mixon is hoping to put a drama-filled offseason behind him. He spent part of the off-season in a courtroom. Facing a trial last month after being accused of aggravated menacing. Mixon was found not guilty but missed part of training camp and the preseason due to the trial. This isn’t the only legal drama Mixon is facing this year. Last month, a civil lawsuit was filed against Mixon. Over a shooting that took place at his residence in March; Mixon himself is not a suspect in the shooting.

Mixon also had his contract restructured during this summer. Agreeing to a pay cut to help the Bengals secure a deal for Burrow. The Bengals are sticking with one of the top running backs in the league today. At a time when several running backs in the league feel they’re being devalued. While making record-setting deals is unusual for the Bengals. Sticking with a player through a tumultuous moment isn’t. That could give Mixon the confidence to overcome a challenging off-season.

There’s one thing that stands out with both Mixon and Burrow’s contracts. It’s not the money or the length of these deals. It’s how quietly these deals were worked out. Burrow and Mixon weren’t refusing to participate in practices or workouts due to these negotiations. Mixon’s legal troubles and Burrow’s injury affected their practice/workout availability. They weren’t dropping snide social media comments about the franchise. Instead, these negotiations played out in a calm, cool and collected manner.

While the Bengals worked through Mixon and Burrow’s contract negotiations. Cincinnati’s front office also worked to address several areas of concern. Adding Orlando Brown Jr. to give the offensive line a boost. Added depth at wide receiver by drafting Charlie Jones and Andrei Iosivas. The Bengals also brought in Nick Scott to succeed Jessie Bates III at safety. Cincinnati is also striving for defensive stability. With Germaine Pratt, Trey Hendrickson and Logan Wilson staying in Cincinnati through extensions.

All of those moves could help the Bengals contend in the long run. As the Bengals turn their attention to the action on the field. Which highlights the biggest concern I have heading into this season. The Bengals will head into this season similar to how they went into last season. With key starters that didn’t play in the preseason; due to injuries or a desire to avoid injuries.

The Bengals stumbled at the start of last season. As players worked to knock the metaphorical rust off. Losing their first two games of last season. We might see the same thing from Cincinnati on Sunday. As they travel to face the Cleveland Browns at 1 PM Eastern.

Cincinnati’s major league teams have generally exceeded expectations this year. The Bengals could do so this season with a good start. Even if that doesn’t happen, the Bengals showed last year that they can overcome a rough start. The offseason provides a reason to feel confident the Bengals can do that again if necessary. While also providing confidence for the Bengals future.