One thing quarterback Joe Burrow had never done for the Cincinnati Bengals before Saturday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Paycor Stadium is complete a pass in a preseason game.

Burrow, preparing for his fifth NFL season with the Bengals, completed a first-quarter pass during Cincinnati’s opening series to Tee Higgins for nine yards.

The play started a lengthy scoring drive to start the game. Burrow found Higgins for a 10-yard touchdown pass to give the Bengals an early lead.

Burrow completed 5-of-7 attempts for 51 yards during the 12-play, 73-yard opening drive.

“And the best news: Not one fingertip of a Buccaneer landed on Joe Burrow,” Bengals preseason TV network play-by-play announcer Mike Watts said during the broadcast.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor had told reporters he expected Burrow and all healthy starters to play at some point during the preseason. In addition to the preseason opener, the Bengals have preseason games scheduled for Saturday, August 17, against the Bears at Chicago’s Soldier Field; and Thursday, August 22, at home against the Indianapolis Colts.

Joe Burrow’s preseason completion was the first of his NFL career.

Before Burrow’s rookie season, 2020 preseason games were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, Burrow returned from the ACL injury that prematurely ended his 2020 season and played three preseason snaps. Receiver Ja’Marr Chase dropped Burrow’s only pass attempt during a loss to Miami.

In 2022, Burrow underwent an appendectomy in July and didn’t play during the preseason.

In 2023, the Bengals held Burrow out of the preseason after he suffered a calf strain during a July practice.

Burrow missed the Bengals’ final seven games of last season with a wrist injury.