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Dalton Risner shared the message Joe Burrow shared with him
With the NFL free agency period less than one week away, the Cincinnati Bengals announced they had re-signed one of their key free agents. The team signed veteran guard Dalton Risner to a one-year, $5 million deal with the Bengals following his strong 2025 season.
Risner was signed prior to the 2025 season, but he got off to a poor start as he was directly involved in a play that resulted in quarterback Joe Burrow suffering a turf toe injury, which led to Burrow missing a large part of the season. Regarding that particular play, Risner said, “I’ll always remember it. I’m never gonna forget about it. I’ve always been a guy that’s gonna be real. Let’s just call it for what it is, man. We live in a world where we all try to be perfect, and we all try to have it all put together all the time, and no one wants to admit their mistakes. I’d rather do the opposite. I’d rather be exactly who I am and call it for what it is.”
Now, after signing his extension, Risner revealed the message quarterback Joe Burrow shared with him.
Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow’s Clear Message to Dalton Risner
The Bengals offensive lineman said that once Burrow learned that he had re-signed with the team, Burrow told him, “He was grinding on sled pushes at the moment and told me that it was gonna be our year, and he was super excited to have me back.” Risner then added, “I want to keep that dude healthy and go win some serious football games this year.”
Despite the previously mentioned rocky start, Risner put together a strong season. Sports Illustrated’s Russell Heltman detailed that, “There is no big celebration for Risner as he plays out his Age 31 season after the best campaign of his career. His 98.0% pass block efficiency was a career high and ranked eighth-best in the league among starting guards. He added a 97.6% pass block efficiency in True Pass Sets, ranking 3rd among starting guards.”
During the season, Pro Football Focus listed him as the most improved guard. They wrote, “The Bengals’ offensive line has been a sore point of the team for several years now, and it started the 2025 NFL season on a similar trajectory. Dalton Risner arrived as a free agent in the offseason and hoped to add some power to the interior of the unit. The veteran compiled a 56.8 PFF grade in the first half of the year and yielded eight pressures and a sack across six games.
When Risner returned after missing a few matchups, he looked fresh and revitalized. His 79.6 PFF grade was a stark improvement, as he permitted just nine pressures and a sack over eight games. Moreover, Risner’s 79.3 PFF pass-blocking grade placed 11th among guards.”
Dalton Risner’s Contract
Despite the Bengals’ disappointing season, Risner emerged as a bright spot, making his return a key move for 2026, as the team faces a crucial offseason.
When asked about signing a contract with the team, Risner said, “It’s a relief because I’m coming back to somewhere I love. With coaches and players that I love and respect, a staff that I respect, the team I want to play for, a team that respects me and values me and believes in me, and that’s all you can ask for.”
He added, “I’m elated, and we’re going to have a great year, man. I’m going to help the Bengals win, and it’s our year.”
Jose Esquer Jose Esquer is a Mexican-American sportswriter and communications student based in San Diego, CA. His work spans football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. He has written for platforms like RotoWire and DolphinsTalk. You can find him on Twitter/X @JEsquer8, usually talking Dolphins, world football, or both. More about Jose Esquer
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