NFL investigating Bengals over Joe Burrow injury after deleted video drama
The NFL may be adding literal insult to injury.
The league is looking into the Bengals and why quarterback Joe Burrow was not listed on their injury report heading into Thursday’s game against the Ravens, according to multiple reports.
Burrow then suffered an injury to his right wrist that led to him being ruled out for the second half of Baltimore’s eventual 34-20 “Thursday Night Football” win.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor announced Friday afternoon that Burrow is out for the season with torn ligaments in his right wrist.
The injury raised the hackles of many after the team posted — and then deleted — a video to social media in which he could be seen wearing a brace or soft cast on his right (throwing) hand.
Burrow, however, did not appear on Cincinnati’s injury report at any point this week.
“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. “
If the NFL finds a compliance issue with the team’s handling of the injury report, the Bengals could be fined or docked a draft pick.
“It’s not uncommon for guys to wear compression sleeves on the plane,” Burrow said Friday. “When you go up to that altitude, things can swell up.”
Burrow appeared to be in discomfort after connecting on a four-yard touchdown pass with Joe Mixon in the second quarter on what ended up being his final play.
According to coach Taylor, the injury occurred earlier in the game, when Burrow fell on his wrist.
“It looked like he sprained his wrist,” Taylor said. “Fell on it early in the game and then felt it on the touchdown pass.”
Taylor said he was unaware of any Burrow wrist malady heading into the matchup.
“That was the first I saw anything about it,” Taylor said.
Burrow, who struggled through a calf strain early in the season, finished the effort by connecting on 11-of-17 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown.
Cincinnati then turned to Jake Browning, who saw his first high-leverage reps as an NFL QB since joining the Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2019.
He finished the night going 8-of-14 for 68 passing yards with a touchdown to Ja’Marr Chase.
The game also saw Ravens tight end Mark Andrews suffer what the team believes is a season-ending ankle injury on a controversial first-quarter hit.
Burrow will have 10 days to get healthy for the Bengals’ (5-5) important AFC North home matchup against the Steelers on Nov. 26.
