Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow sustained a ligament tear in his wrist, prompting his absence for the remainder of the season, as confirmed by head coach Zac Taylor during discussions with reporters on Friday.
Burrow exited the game against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night due to the aforementioned injury. Despite attempting to resume throwing on the sidelines, his evident discomfort prevented him from continuing.
Following these events, the NFL initiated an inquiry into the Bengals’ injury report concerning Burrow. The team initially shared a video on X, displaying Burrow with a soft cast on his right hand. However, the post was subsequently removed.
Interestingly, Burrow was not featured on the team’s injury report leading up to Thursday’s match.
In place of Burrow, Jake Browning took over as quarterback during the game. Browning’s performance included completing 8 of 14 passes for 68 yards, culminating in a touchdown pass to wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
Regrettably for Cincinnati, the game concluded with a 34-20 loss, indicating Browning’s likelihood to continue as the team’s quarterback for the remainder of the season.
Taylor conveyed that Burrow’s injury is likely to necessitate surgical intervention, stating, “It’s challenging. You invest tremendous effort into seasons and opportunities like these. So, dealing with an early exit due to injury is difficult, but it’s an inherent aspect of the game. I’ve encountered this situation previously; it’s about persevering.”
Burrow, reflecting on the injury, mentioned, “It happened upon impact during a tackle. I attempted to push through, but unfortunately, I couldn’t manage. Just received the news today, not ideal.”
The Bengals, currently at a 5-5 standing, occupy the bottom position in the AFC North and face the toughest remaining schedule in the league. Consequently, their prospects for securing a playoff spot for a third consecutive season appear daunting.
Before the wrist injury, Burrow encountered a setback during training camp, nursing a calf strain. Despite a sluggish start, his performance had returned to its usual form. Across 10 games, he amassed 2,309 passing yards, completing 66.8% of his passes, with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Notably, the Bengals awarded Burrow a significant five-year, $275 million contract, marking him as the highest-paid player in NFL history. This record-breaking deal, with $219.5 million guaranteed, was finalized as the season commenced in September.
