The Cincinnati Bengals will have to try to win a Super Bowl this season without Joe Burrow.
The team just announced its star quarterback suffered a significant wrist injury that will keep him from playing the rest of this year.
According to Cincy head coach Zac Taylor, Burrow appeared to sustain the ailment just before throwing a touchdown pass to Joe Mixon in the second quarter of the team’s Thursday Night Football game against the Ravens.
Burrow tried to play through the pain but cameras inside of M&T Bank Stadium showed he just simply couldn’t grip a football — and sat out the rest of the contest, which the Bengals lost, 34-20.
Taylor said his 26-year-old star will “likely” need surgery to fix the issue.
The team, meanwhile, could find itself in hot water over it all as the NFL is reportedly investigating whether or not the Bengals knew about a potential problem with Burrow’s wrist leading up to the big “TNF” matchup.
Burrow was seen getting off the team plane in Baltimore wearing some kind of brace on his hand — yet he was not listed on the team’s injury report heading into the game.
Regardless, losing Burrow is obviously a huge blow for Cincinnati as the signal-caller is widely considered one of the five best quarterbacks in the game right now.
The Bengals, now 5-5, will turn to Burrow’s backup, Jake Browning, to try to save their season.
The news of Burrow’s injury rocked the football world. Fans, players, and analysts were all shocked and saddened to hear that one of the game’s brightest young stars would be sidelined for the rest of the season. Burrow had been having a stellar year, leading the Bengals to a 5-5 record and establishing himself as one of the most promising young quarterbacks in the league.
The injury occurred in a critical moment during the team’s game against the Ravens, just before he threw a touchdown pass to Joe Mixon. Despite his best efforts, Burrow was unable to continue playing, and the Bengals ultimately lost the game. His absence leaves a significant void in the team’s lineup, and the Bengals now face the daunting task of finishing the season without their star quarterback.
Coach Taylor’s announcement about Burrow’s injury and the potential need for surgery has raised questions about the Bengals’ handling of the situation. The NFL is reportedly investigating whether the team was aware of the severity of Burrow’s injury before the game and failed to disclose it in their injury report. If it is found that the Bengals were aware of the extent of the injury and did not fully disclose it, they could face consequences from the league.
In the absence of Joe Burrow, the Bengals will turn to their backup quarterback, Jake Browning, to lead the team for the remainder of the season. Browning faces the challenging task of stepping into the starting role and guiding the team through the remainder of the season.
The Bengals’ hopes for a successful season are now in peril, as they must navigate the remainder of their schedule without the player widely considered the face of the franchise. The loss of Burrow will undoubtedly have a substantial impact on the team’s performance, and it remains to be seen how they will fare without their star quarterback leading the way.
The injury highlights the physical toll that professional football can take on players and serves as a reminder of the inherent risks involved in the sport. Burrow’s injury has sparked discussions about player safety and the importance of proper injury management and reporting in the NFL. It also serves as a sobering reminder of the fragility of an athlete’s career and the impact that injuries can have on both the individual and the team as a whole.
As fans and analysts digest the news, the football world waits to see how the Bengals will respond to the loss of their star quarterback and how the remainder of their season will unfold. Burrow’s absence creates an opportunity for other players on the team to step up and fill the void left by his departure, and it will be interesting to see how the Bengals rally in the face of adversity.
