Bengals QB Joe Burrow’s key teammate sends strong warning to the league ahead of the 2025 NFL season

While Joe Burrow is undoubtedly one of the Cincinnati Bengals’ premier leaders, he won’t be alone in the team’s 2025 NFL title push. Surrounded by high-level talent, the QB will be backed by a strong supporting cast aiming to make a serious run. In fact, it was one of his key defensive teammates who just sent a clear warning to the rest of the league about what’s coming.

Myles Murphy joined Zac Taylor’s squad in 2023 after being selected with the 28th overall pick in the first round out of Clemson. Through hard work and natural talent, the defensive standout quickly became a key piece for the Bengals. Now, he’s made it clear he’s ready to take a major step forward this season.

Physical preparation is no small detail for Murphy, who is aiming to be in peak condition in order to raise the bar on his performance. In a recent conversation with the media, the defensive end confidently stated that he feels ready to become the best at his position in the entire league.

“I’m not really worried about all that, let’s be honest,” Murphy said, via the team’s website. “It’s me versus me right now. Just trying to be way better than last year, for sure. I know I’ve got everything that it takes to dominate in the league. It’s just building up the confidence to know I can make those plays that are ahead of me.”

Defensive end Myles Murphy #99 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on October 08, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. The Bengals defeated the Cardinals 34-20.

Since entering the NFL, Murphy has appeared in 17 games during his rookie season, and saw action in 13 contests last year. So far, he’s totaled 40 tackles and holds an average of 3.0 sacks. The question now is: can he take his game to the next level and boost those numbers in 2025?

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What can be expected from the Bengals next season?

It’s been several years since the Bengals last appeared in a Super Bowl — a painful loss to the Rams that still lingers in the minds of fans and players alike. That’s exactly why the mindset heading into this season is different. The mission is clear: this time, the goal isn’t just to make it back — it’s to finally bring home the elusive Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Fortunately for Joe Burrow, he’ll once again have his trusted companions Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase by his side. Both are crucial pieces in the Bengals’ offense, and at one point, there was significant uncertainty about their future with the team, as rumors swirled that they might be on their way out if contract negotiations didn’t reach a resolution.

It will be a matter of seeing how the game develops for Cincinnati starting in Week 1. However, the focus is clearly on first establishing themselves as contenders in the AFC North, and later proving they can be a legitimate threat against any team in the league.