The single biggest x-factor in today’s game between the Seahawks and the Bengals will be how well Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow is able to move on his injured calf. Through the first four games of the season Burrow played through pain with poor results – both for himself and his team. However, Burrow appeared to be back in form in last week’s win over the Cardinals.
Heading into his team’s early kickoff later today against the Seahawks, the latest word on Joe Cool III is that he’s almost operating at 100%, including running sprints at practice for the first time since he suffered the injury. Here’s the Athletic’s Dianna Russini on the details, H/T Bengals Wire.
“Somehow the quarterback has played his way back to health. Calf injuries usually require rest, but Burrow has figured out a schedule of care for his calf that has him almost at 100 percent… Though slightly sore this week, he ran sprints in practice for the first time since the injury, according to a team source. Overall, he’s running and moving around more in drills, all without a calf sleeve on his leg.”
Good for him and for the NFL, but a bummer for Seattle this week. Nevertheless, this defense should be trying to test Burrow’s mobility as early and as much as possible. The pass rush rotation should certainly be feeling confident right now regardless who’s under center for the opponent.
Defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt reversed course and started blitzing aggressively in Week 3’s win over the Panthers and continued last Monday night against the Giants. The results were spectacular, with the team racking up enough sacks and total pressures to lead the league in both stats heading into their bye in Week 5.
The latest odds show the Seahawks are three-point underdogs, which is the same line as when betting opened but it has moved half a point in the Bengals’ direction after initially going half a point the other way.
In any case, to be within a field goal in a road game against what was a Super Bowl contender coming into this season (and may be again) shows just how far this young Seahawks team has come in a relatively short amount of time. At this rate the Russell Wilson trade may go down as the best deal not only in franchise history – but the most valuable trade any team has ever made in the NFL.
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