CINCINNATI (AP) — Joe Burrow is in unfamiliar territory.
For the first time in his NFL career, the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback is preparing for a Week 18 start knowing that no matter what, the season ends on Sunday.
Burrow was injured in 2020 and ‘23. The Bengals made it to the Super Bowl in 2021 and the AFC championship game in ’22 along with being in contention for a playoff spot up until the last game in 2024.
“Obviously, you want to win a Super Bowl, you want to win MVPs, you want to be in the playoffs every year,” Burrow said. “My goals at this point are just going out and playing as good as I can and continuing to improve, finding ways to continue to be great and continue to find self improvement.”
The Bengals (6-10) close out the season on Sunday at home against the Cleveland Browns (4-12). While the Bengals defense has struggled this season, Burrow also missed more than half of the season because of a toe injury that required surgery.
During the offseason, as Burrow works to get stronger, the front office will also need to strengthen the roster. Burrow said that he has a great line of communication with the front office and ownership.
“I think my job is to No. 1, play as well as I can. No. 2, continue to improve, and No. 3, be the conduit between coaching staff, front office and the locker room,” Burrow said. “Relay feelings that players have, relay sentiments in the locker room because coaches and front office, they aren’t down there every day and they don’t understand a lot of the things that go on in the locker room. I think (as a) quarterback, your job is to relay some of those things.”
Following three years where the Bengals have missed the postseason, Burrow said that there will need to be some changes for the Bengals to get back to contention in the AFC.
But unlike last season, when he stumped for re-signing players such as Tee Higgins and Mike Gesicki, Burrow is speaking more in generalities.
“We want to be competing for championships every year,” Burrow said. “We don’t want to be in the spot we are in now, so something’s got to change, whether it’s players we have continuing to improve and get better and play championship-caliber football, or bringing in guys that will or whatever it may be.”
Right now, Burrow’s main focus is preparing for a vaunted Browns’ defense and preparing for one of the top pass rushers in Myles Garrett. Burrow has been sacked 11 times by Garrett in nine meetings.
Garrett is one sack away from setting the single-season record for sacks. While that presents a big challenge, the Bengals also have one of their best offensive lines in years. Because of the development of right tackle Amarius Mims and left guard Dylan Fairchild, the Browns will see a much-improved Bengals’ offensive line than what they faced in Week 1.
“I think they’re playing exponentially better than they were at the time,” Burrow said. “I know they’re excited about the challenge, but I know (the Browns’) front is tough to deal with, starting with (Garrett). They have a lot of other guys, too, that can be very challenging to handle up front. I know they’re excited for it.”
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow speaks during an interview after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) reacts during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow reacts during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Macklin Celebrini, the 19-year-old star for the San Jose Sharks, is going to the Winter Olympics.
Celebrini was among 19 players named to Canada’s 25-player men’s hockey roster Wednesday ahead of the NHL’s return to the Olympics in Milan, Italy, in February.
Celebrini, who entered Wednesday's action third in league scoring behind fellow Canadians Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers and Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche, is one of six additions to the group that won the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament last February. Other newcomers at forward: Nick Suzuki of the Montreal Canadiens, Bo Horvat of the New York Islanders and Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals.
Celebrini said he received the call from Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong early Wednesday, and the first thing he did was call his parents. He said it's an honor to represent Canada, regardless of the tournament.
“It’s all surreal," Celebrini said after posting a goal and an assist in the Sharks' 4-3 shootout win over Minnesota on Wednesday. "I’m just really excited and focused on how special it is to represent my country at the Olympics.
“When you think about representing Canada at the Olympics, you realize you’re one group representing the entire country. So many athletes work their whole lives for that chance, and it means something extra to be part of that.”
Celebrini said it was difficult to refocus on San Jose's game after getting the news about the spot on the Olympic team, but he realizes the work for success in Milan starts now.
“He (Armstrong) told me I was on the team and that he was excited for the group,” Celebrini said. “The work starts now, building chemistry and looking toward Milan.”
Canada, which plays its first game at the Olympics on Feb. 12 against Czechia, is keeping its 4 Nations defense corps intact, but is switching out two of the three goaltenders, with Washington’s Logan Thompson and Darcy Kuemper of the Los Angeles Kings joining Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues. They replace Adin Hill of the Vegas Golden Knights and Montreal’s Sam Montembeault.
The 4 Nations forwards who did not make the Olympic team: Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers, Travis Konecny of the Philadelphia Flyers and Seth Jarvis of the Carolina Hurricanes.
McDavid, MacKinnon, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, Colorado defenseman Cale Makar, Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point and Florida winger Sam Reinhart were named to the Olympic roster in June.
They will be joined by returning forwards Anthony Cirelli (Tampa Bay), Brandon Hagel (Tampa Bay), Brad Marchand (Florida), Mitch Marner (Vegas) and Mark Stone (Vegas). The blue line led by Makar includes Drew Doughty (Los Angeles), Thomas Harley (Dallas), Josh Morrissey (Winnipeg), Colton Parayko (St. Louis), Travis Sanheim (Philadelphia), Shea Theodore (Vegas) and Devon Toews (Colorado).
The 38-year-old Crosby and 36-year-old Doughty are the only players with past Olympic experience. At 37, Marchand knew this was his last shot.
“It’s literally what has been the driving force of my training and what I’ve been focused on for the last 12 years, ever since I got a taste of Olympic camp before (Sochi 2014)," said Marchand, a two-time Stanley Cup champion. “It’s been the thing that I wanted to accomplish most — to be part of that team.”
Some notable omissions include Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, who is currently out with an upper-body injury, and Winnipeg forward Mark Scheifele. Washington defenseman Jakob Chychrun and New York Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer were also left out.
The NHL is returning to the Olympics for the first time since 2014.
This story has been corrected to fix the spelling of Jakob Chychrun’s first name.
AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) carries the puck toward the Winnipeg Jets net during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
San Jose Sharks' Macklin Celebrini (71) celebrates his goal against the Vancouver Canucks with his teammates during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
