Bengals QB coach provides first impression of Joe Burrow throwing during first practice back

Phase 2 of the Cincinnati Bengals' offseason program kicked off with the return of quarterback Joe Burrow throwing the football . Burrow threw to his receivers on site for the first time since suffering a right wrist injury back in November.

Many things about the Bengals have changed since then, including Burrow's quarterbacks coach. With Dan Pitcher being promoted to the offensive coordinator gig, Brad Kragthorpe is Burrow's new position coach.

Kragthorpe led Burrow's first workout of the offseason Monday afternoon, and saw what every Bengals fan wanted to hear.

"I think he looked as quick and as athletic as I've seen him look," Kragthorpe told Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com . "He looked like the Joe Burrow we're used to seeing. I didn't see any difference. I thought the ball came out of his hand well. Confidently. I'm happy where he's at."

Burrow's been in Cincinnati for four years now, but Kragthorpe has known him for even longer. He was an offensive assistant for LSU during Burrow's first season with the program in 2018 before joining the Bengals' coaching staff a year later.

No one inside Paycor Stadium outside of Ja'Marr Chase has seen Burrow throw more in person than Kragthorpe. His evaluation on what Burrow normally throws like is extremely valuable.

Burrow being able to throw a football post-surgery was never in doubt, but the fear of him never throwing with the same velocity and power has been spread over the last few months.

Fear that was either speculative, or completely unfounded.

Kragthorpe wasn't the only to come away after Burrow's throwing session. Second-year receiver Andrei Iosivas took note of Burrow's deep throws.

"He was pushing it on the deeper throws down the field," said Iosivas. "He was slinging it and really putting some heat on those (passes)."

It's early days for Burrow and the Bengals. OTAs are only just beginning, and we're still months away from full practices and pass rushers providing pressure. Burrow will have weeks of practice under his belt before all of that arrives in late July and August, which is when his wrist will truly be put under the microscope.

But if this is where Burrow's at in early May, then all signs point to a productive offseason.

Related: Joe Burrow's strategy against pass rushers sounds a lot like an ode to Andrew Luck