The Cincinnati Bengals announced that star quarterback Joe Burrow has suffered a torn ligament in his right wrist and will miss the remainder of the 2023 season.
Head coach Zac Taylor revealed the news on Friday afternoon, saying that Burrow will most likely need surgery and insisting the team’s fortunes remain intact without their Pro Bowl quarterback, who led them to the Super Bowl two years ago.
“This season is far from over,” Taylor said of the 5-5 Bengals.
Burrow was injured during the Bengals’ 34-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday. Cincinnati will probably turn to backup quarterback Jake Browning, who was 8-of-14 passing for 68 yards and a touchdown against the Ravens in his first significant NFL action.
“It’s tough,” Burrow said on Friday afternoon. “You work so hard for seasons and moments like these. Whenever you get hurt and it ends early, it’s tough to handle. That’s a part of the game.” He added that he felt “a pop” as he threw on the play in which he was injured.
Earlier Friday, the Associated Press reported the NFL is investigating the team’s handling of Burrow’s injury status in the lead-up to that game. The Bengals had posted and later deleted a video on social media that showed Burrow getting off a team bus with his right hand in what appeared to be a soft cast. Such reviews are not uncommon with the NFL regularly looking into similar cases. Teams can be fined or lose a draft pick for violating the NFL’s injury report policy.
“It’s not uncommon for guys to wear a compression sleeve on a plane because when you go up to that altitude, things can swell up,” Burrow said Friday. “Football, you have a lot of bumps and bruises. This is a completely new injury.”
Burrow was 11 of 17 for 101 yards and a touchdown pass when he left. Browning replaced him with the Bengals trailing 14-10.
The former Heisman Trophy winner and No 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft suffered a calf injury earlier this season, but he hasn’t missed a game this year. His rookie season also ended early due to a knee injury.
“It kills you to watch somebody have to go through this, you know, several times now,” Taylor said.
The Bengals’ AFC North rivals, the Cleveland Browns, lost their starting quarterback this week when it was announced Deshaun Watson needs season-ending shoulder surgery.
