Bengals QB Joe Burrow out for season, likely needs surgery
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How will Bengals respond to Burrow missing the rest of the season? (1:34)
Sam Acho breaks down how the Bengals need to respond after Joe Burrow was ruled out for the season with a torn ligament in his right wrist. (1:34)
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ESPN News Services
Nov 17, 2023, 02:48 PM ET
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will miss the remainder of the season due to a torn ligament in his right wrist, as announced by coach Zac Taylor on Friday.
Burrow sustained the injury during the Bengals’ 34-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday. He revealed that he felt a pop in the second quarter, leading him to leave the game and ultimately be ruled out shortly after halftime.
“I initially thought I could tape it up and give it a shot,” Burrow said. “But unfortunately, I couldn’t continue.”
Taylor stated that Burrow will likely require surgery to repair the torn ligament.
With Burrow sidelined, the Bengals will turn to backup quarterback Jake Browning, who showcased his skills by completing 8 out of 14 passes for 68 yards and a touchdown against the Ravens in his first significant NFL appearance.
“This season is far from over,” Taylor emphasized regarding the 5-5 Bengals’ prospects.
Burrow becomes the second AFC North franchise quarterback to be ruled out for the season in the past three days, following Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson’s fracture in his throwing shoulder, which also occurred while playing against the Ravens.
The NFL is currently investigating the Bengals’ reporting of Burrow’s injury status leading up to Thursday’s game. The team had posted a video on X on Wednesday night showing Burrow wearing what appeared to be a soft cast on his right hand as he got off the team bus. However, the post was later deleted.
The league routinely examines compliance with its injury report policy, and any violations could result in team fines or lost draft picks. Teams were explicitly warned at the spring owners meetings that they must disclose all injuries.
Browning, an undrafted free agent from Washington in 2019, had been part of Cincinnati’s practice squad since 2021 until this season, when he secured the backup role over Trevor Siemian during training camp. Prior to Thursday, his only pass in a regular-season game was an incompletion late in the Bengals’ 24-3 loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 1 of this season.
Browning will make his first career start on November 26 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Bengals, who had 12-1 odds to win the Super Bowl before Thursday’s game, are now listed at 150-1 at ESPN BET as of Friday afternoon.
This marks the second time in Burrow’s four-year NFL career that he has suffered a season-ending injury in Week 11. In 2020, he tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee during a game against Washington.