The injury bug has bitten Joe Burrow yet again.
The Cincinnati Bengals star quarterback suffered an apparent leg injury Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Bengals trainers tended to Burrow on the field midway through the second quarter, and he needed some help on his way back to the locker room:
Burrow’s NFL career has already had incredible highs and lows, with the lows due almost entirely to injuries. His promising rookie season in 2020 was halted after 10 games due to a torn ACL and MCL, ending what would have potentially been a Rookie of the Year campaign.
Injuries became a storyline again in 2023, as Burrow strained his calf in late July, missed the remainder of both training camp and the preseason and didn’t look 100 percent to start the regular season.
He started to find his groove again between October and November, leading the Bengals on a four-game win streak after a 1-3 start. But a torn ligament in his right wrist suffered in a Week 11 loss to the Baltimore Ravens ended his season, and while Cincinnati managed to go 4-3 without him down the stretch, the team still missed the playoffs.
When healthy, Burrow is one of the best quarterbacks in football. He’s a two-time Pro Bowler, has led the Bengals to a pair of AFC Championship Games and the Super Bowl in 2021. The team showed its long-term belief in Burrow, signing him to a five-year, $275 million extension in Sept. 2023.
He played a full season in 2024, throwing for 4,918 yards, 43 touchdowns and nine interceptions, but the Bengals went just 9-8 and missed the playoffs.
The concern going forward is that several of his seasons have now been cut short due to injury. While Jake Browning has proven to be a very solid backup, Burrow is one of the best quarterbacks in football. Without him, the Bengals are far less potent.
Keeping him healthy is the singular goal for Cincinnati in its quest to finally win a title. For the time being, Browning will be tasked with keeping the team afloat.
Read the full article here