The last time Joe Burrow missed extended time for the Cincinnati Bengals, the team deferred to backups Ryan Finley and Brandon Allen in a 2-5 finish to the 2020 season. They’re now in a similar spot after a wrist injury ended Burrow’s Week 11 start against the Baltimore Ravens and the rest of his 2023 regular season
Burrow departed in the second quarter, nursing a wrist injury after a touchdown pass to Joe Mixon. The Pro Bowl quarterback disappeared into the bowels of M&T Bank Stadium for further analysis after being left unable to throw the ball on the sideline. On Friday, he was ruled out for the remainder of the year due to what’s head coach Zac Taylor told the press is a torn ligament.
No good for Joe Burrow pic.twitter.com/gmSUQuDVs1
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) November 17, 2023
That’s a problem. The Bengals have little room for error in the shark tank that is the 2023 AFC North. Cincinnati started off the season 1-3 thanks in part to an ailing Burrow limping through the first month with the calf injury that left him immobile in the pocket and unable to step into tough throws downfield. This team can be competitive without its MVP-adjacent quarterback, but a trip back to a third-straight conference championship game depends on Joe Sheisty’s return.
The Bengals have few options to replace even 70 percent of Burrow’s output. So what’s on the table?