Joe Burrow Undergoes Successful Wrist Surgery
Joe Burrow‘s road back to the gridiron is underway as he just underwent successful surgery on his torn ligament Monday, the team announced. Head coach Zac Taylor expects him at Paycor Stadium later this week when they begin preparing for next week’s game in Jacksonville.
“Joe Burrow underwent successful surgery on his wrist today,” the statement read. “The procedure went as planned and he is expected to make a complete recovery. Joe will return to Cincinnati this week to be with the team and begin the recovery and rehab process.
Burrow tore a ligament in his wrist in the Bengals’ Week 11 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Many speculated that the team was trying to hide the injury as Burrow didn’t show up on the injury report for that week.
However, pregame footage revealed that the Pro Bowl quarterback was just fine in warmups, and was playing really well before he was hurt.
The comeback starts now. pic.twitter.com/cJ0H1jEnIG
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 28, 2023
This is Burrow’s second season-ending injury in four years, as he suffered a torn ACL in his rookie year against Washington. The year after, he led the Bengals to their first Super Bowl berth in 35 years.
“I’ve been through stuff like this before. It’s nothing new,” Burrow said last week. “It’s football. Stuff like this happens. You just have to learn to live with it. I’ve talked a lot about leaning on your support system. I’ve got a great support system. Great friends, great family (to) help me get through it. Great teammates. I’ll be around here. Not ideal, but I’ve got what it takes and the people around me got what it takes to get it done.”
The team expects Burrow on the sidelines, mentoring and guiding backup quarterback Jake Browning throughout the rest of the season. That’s exactly what he’s been doing.
During Sunday’s game against the Steelers, Burrow wore an earpiece that allowed him to hear the play calls. Along with Browning, offensive coordinator Brian Callahan said he was on the bench looking at the tablets.
“He wants to be available,” Callahan said Monday. “He’s been great all week in the meeting room. Just being there for conversation points and what he sees and how he sees it is always helpful to have.“
Browning put together a very solid performance in his first career start against a stout Pittsburgh defense, throwing for 227 yards, one touchdown and an interception on 73 percent passing. However, there were moments where Burrow was sorely missed.
On the 3rd OFF play of @Bengals v @Steelers – Joe Burrow would probably have thrown a TD to Andrei Iosivas
— Kyle Caskey (@CoachKyleCaskey) November 27, 2023
But instead…Jake Browning doesn't pull the trigger & sack fumble
This is the difference between Burrow & any other QB that runs out on the field…@CBoxSports #CINvsPIT pic.twitter.com/LHBYnO2jIM
You see that safety come down at the snap and the CB go flat-footed, that ball needs to be a TD.
— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) November 27, 2023
Chase threw up the hand!
This all happens in 1.5 seconds, so I get it, but this is why you lose without your starting QB. pic.twitter.com/EGoKmxxMVn
Of course, this isn’t throwing any shade on Browning, it just goes to show how elite and meaningful Burrow is to this offense. Also, the Bengals’ defense gave up 400-plus yards to a historically bad Steelers offense, who hadn’t hit that mark in nearly 60 games.
The run game was really bad too, with Joe Mixon rushing for just 16 yards on eight carries.
“We have to run the ball better,” Callahan said, via Kelsey Conway and Charlie Goldsmith. “There’s no way to sugarcoat it. We need to find out what Chase Brown can do for us, as we didn’t get to the plays we had for him.”
OC Brian Callahan: We have to run the ball better. There's no way to sugarcoat it.
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) November 27, 2023
Some notes from OC Brian Callahan
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) November 27, 2023
-“Have to run better.” The Bengals called many different types of runs and used different formations, but it wasn’t working. Callahan said the run game doesn’t always get better with more runs, and the early down passing game was efficient.
All in all, the team looks forward to having Burrow back for the 2024 season.
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