It’s the worst-case scenario for Joe Burrow and the Bengals.
Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor revealed on Friday that the star QB is done for the season with a torn ligament in his right wrist suffered during a 34-20 loss to the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on “Thursday Night Football.”
“We’re still gathering more information about that, but that seems to be where it’s headed right now,” Taylor told reporters.
Jake Browning will take Burrow’s place as the Bengals’ starter.
Taylor indicated the injury happened after a nine-yard completion to running back Joe Mixon in the second quarter, with Burrow getting hit by Baltimore’s Jadeveon Clowney on the play.
Burrow was in visible discomfort after throwing a four-yard touchdown pass to Mixon on the next play and struggled to grip the ball on the sidelines.
“I felt a pop,” Burrow said of the TD throw, adding that he landed on his wrist the play before.
The injury had already caught the attention of the NFL, which is reportedly investigating the situation as the Bengals posted — and then deleted — a video of the QB wearing what appeared to be a soft brace on his right hand coming off the team plane, though he was not listed on any injury reports during the week.
“It’s not uncommon for guys to wear compression sleeves on a plane because when you go up to that altitude things can swell up,” Burrow said. “In football you have a lot of bumps and bruises. This is a completely new injury.”
Taylor also refused to connect Burrow’s flight-wear to a preexisting issue, adding that he was unaware the QB was even wearing something on his wrist.
“I don’t know, totally unrelated to what this was.” Taylor said. “Lot of guys wear different compression things on the plane, but again, that’s something he did. I don’t know exactly what it was, but totally unrelated to what this was.”
The Bengals came into the season with Super Bowl hopes, though an 0-2 start brought about questions around Burrow, who played through a calf straight suffered in training camp.
Cincinnati had reeled off four straight wins before Thursday’s loss which only got worse a day later.
“Its tough, but that’s the life we live, that’s football,” Burrow said. “You’re gonna get injured. Things are going to happen. You’re going to have to overcome things.”
It will be a big task for the Bengals — now 5-5 and in the basement of the ultra-competitive AFC North, especially with Browning, a 27-year-old undrafted free agent whose first meaningful NFL snaps came Thursday.
“This is adversity, It’s not foreign to our team,” Taylor said. “It’s exciting to see guys rally around each other and rally around Jake. I’m excited to see this team respond. I feel energy. It’s tough to see your starting QB who is as good as Joe Burrow go down.”
The first chance at a response comes on Nov. 26 against the Steelers on home turf at Paul Brown Stadium.
