Joe Burrow

NFL Injury Updates: Burrow, Richardson, Barkley, Thomas

September 17th, 2023 at 8:23pm CST by Ely Allen

Bengals fans have been plenty frustrated with the team’s return on investment from quarterback Joe Burrow‘s record-breaking extension. Through two games, Burrow has averaged 152 yards per game while throwing two touchdowns and an interception. People were concerned about the calf injury that forced him out of practice early in training camp this summer and how it would affect him as the season began. Burrow has pointed to that injury as a big reason for some of his early struggles, according to Jay Morrison of Pro Football Network.

Morrison noted that Burrow spoke “with a level of concern” after today’s game when addressing his right calf. He claimed to have tweaked his calf in today’s loss to the Ravens. Not only did he consider it a factor today, and likely last week, but he also thought there was a chance that it could end up being a tight rope that he is forced to walk for the remainder of the season.

It’s not difficult to see that the Burrow we’ve seen so far this year has been far from what we’re used to seeing in recent years. It will be interesting to see how the Bengals move forward with the handling of Burrow’s calf. Pushing him too hard could result in an extended absence, while a short reprieve of a week or two could help him get on top of a recovery that seems to be troubling him. There’s a lot of season left to go, and the Bengals will be keeping a close eye on Burrow in the days and weeks to come.

Here are a few other updates from around the NFL:

Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson got off to a hot start in the second game of his NFL career, rushing for two touchdowns early in today’s divisional matchup with the Texans. Richardson had to exit the game in the first half, though, after sustaining a concussion that would hold him out for the remainder of the contest. Richardson was replaced by backup quarterback Gardner Minshew, who helped secure the team’s first win of the season. Richardson will need to go through concussion protocols in order to return to the field. This season, the protocols for return take about five days to get through, meaning Richardson absolutely has a chance to return for Week 3 if he can pass the necessary tests. If not, Minshew will continue to play in relief.
Giants running back Saquon Barkley was injured in the final two minutes of today’s win over the Cardinals. He was obviously kept out of the remainder of the game but was visibly upset on the sideline while surrounded by trainers. They taped Barkley’s ankle, but he continued to walk with a significant limp. According to Jordan Raanan of ESPN, an x-ray was performed after the game, while Barkley was still experiencing some swelling and discomfort. It has now been reported as a sprained ankle, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, meaning New York may have dodged a giant bullet, forgive the pun. While this bodes well for Barkley’s season-long prospects, the short week will not be his friend. Expect the Giants to exercise caution and, barring a miracle recovery, hold Barkley out for their Thursday night matchup against the 49ers. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Barkley will undergo an MRI tomorrow in order to determine the severity of the injury and gain an idea of just how much time he may miss.
Joining Richardson above, Commanders tight end Logan Thomas left the team’s win over the Broncos today with a concussion that he sustained after getting clobbered over the middle by Denver safety Kareem Jackson. Jackson was ejected for the hit. Backup tight ends John Bates and Cole Turner both got significant run in Thomas’ absence and will continue to do so if he isn’t able to return next week.
Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney (knee), Cowboys right guard Zack Martin (ankle), and Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (ankle) all sustained injuries today that kept them out of their respective games. Reports from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Jane Slater and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tell us that none of these injuries are considered serious.

Latest On Bengals’ Joe Burrow Extension

September 11th, 2023 at 5:16pm CST by Adam La Rose

Things didn’t go according to plan for the Bengals in Week 1, but the team accomplished its most important offseason goal not long before the campaign started by inking Joe Burrow to a record-breaking extension. Further details have emerged regarding the investment made in the team’s franchise quarterback.

Burrow’s five-year, $275MM extension gives him the title of the NFL’s highest-paid player in terms of annual compensation (one which has changed hands four times in 2023). The pact is notable not only with respect to its $55MM AAV and the $219.01MM in total guarantees, but also the up front commitment made by the Bengals in a move which bucks the organization’s norms regarding major contracts.

Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Burrow will see roster and training camp bonuses totaling just over $44.5MM in 2023, along with a league minimum base salary. In 2024, he will receive a combined total of $65.7MM between salary and an option bonus; that total sits at $35.25MM for 2025. All of the 26-year-old’s compensation over the next three years is fully guaranteed at signing.

That makes Burrow’s pact a much more lucrative one in terms of early cash flow ($146.5MM across 2023-25) compared to Justin Herbert‘s Chargers extension, as noted by Over the Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald. It also marks a break from tradition in terms of standard practice for the Bengals, who have typically avoided including injury guarantees beyond Year 1 of an extension. Making an exception to that rule was always going to be necessary given the market for QBs on their second contracts, but this structure is certainly noteworthy.

Burrow’s pact – which runs through 2029 – also includes rolling guarantees which cover much of his compensation in 2026 and ’27. Incentives for victories in the AFC title game and Super Bowl are also present through the final five years of the pact, meaning he will be well-positioned for years to come provided he can remain healthy and play at the level he has demonstrated in previous campaigns (which differs greatly from his performance during his first game after signing the mega-pact).

Questions will be raised about how many core contributors the Bengals can retain with Burrow now on the books at a massive raise. Wideout Tee Higgins is among the players who seems destined to at least test the open market before potentially departing in free agency, but the team has cost certainty with its most important player for the foreseeable future.

Bengals, QB Joe Burrow Agree To Five-Year Extension

September 9th, 2023 at 10:50am CST by Ben Levine

SEPTEMBER 9: The Bengals have made it official, with the organization announcing their extension with Burrow.

“Quarterback is the most critical position in sports, and Joe has embraced his role here with intelligence and determination,” coach Zac Taylor said in a statement. “The team responds to Joe as our quarterback, and we look forward to a bright future with Joe continuing to lead our talented roster. He makes everyone better.”

SEPTEMBER 7: With all eyes on the NFL’s season opener in Kansas City, the Bengals have stolen some attention away from their conference rival. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bengals and quarterback Joe Burrow have agreed to a record-breaking extension.

It’s a five-year, $275MM deal for Burrow, including $219.01MM in guaranteed money. The contract makes the QB the highest-paid player in NFL history.

It always seemed inevitable that Burrow would eventually get his megadeal, with offseason reports indicating that the extension would get done before the start of the regular season. Indeed, it sounds like both sides made some recent progress. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweets that the extension was an “open secret” at Bengals practice today, and Rapoport adds that the organization was simply waiting for Burrow’s “final official yes.”

It’s been a pricey offseason for quarterback extensions, and Burrow always seemed like he’d be the final QB to sign. His $275MM contract tops the offseason deals signed by Justin Herbert ($262.5MM), Jalen Hurts ($255MM), and Lamar Jackson ($260MM). Per ESPN’s Field Yates, Burrow now paces the position “in new money average per year” at $55MM, beating Herbert ($52.5MM), Jackson ($52MM), Hurts ($51MM), and Aaron Rodgers ($49MM).

It’s been an impressive five-year run for Burrow. The LSU product won the Heisman Trophy and National Championship before being selected with the first-overall pick in the 2020 draft. He reached the Super Bowl during the 2021 campaign, and the Bengals returned to the AFC Championship Game during the 2022 season. Now, Burrow is the highest-paid player in NFL history, although he’ll surely fall down the list when the next round of extensions pop up next offseason.

Now signed to a lucrative deal, Burrow will look to build off his productive 2021 and 2022 campaigns. Burrow suffered a sprained calf back in August, putting the start of his 2023 season in doubt. However, after returning to practice last week, it sounds like the franchise QB will be good to go for Sunday’s season opener against the Browns.

While the Bengals front office can cross Burrow’s extension off their to-do list, the team has more pricey deals coming up. Tee Higgins is an impending free agent and will be a popular free agent, with the wideout topping 1,000 receiving yards in each of the past two seasons. Ja’Marr Chase is also eligible for an extension next offseason, meaning the Bengals could soon be eyeing pricey cap hits for three of their offensive stars.

Burrow’s record-breaking deal comes a day after Nick Bosa agreed to a contract that made him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. As Schefter notes, WME Sports was responsible for negotiating both deals, with the two contracts combining for more than $445MM.

Joe Burrow To Play In Week 1; Bengals Rule Out DE Joseph Ossai

September 8th, 2023 at 12:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

Joe Burrow has a new contract in hand and the Bengals will not need to wait long to have him in the lineup after working out a record-setting extension. Head coach Zac Taylor confirmed on Friday that Burrow will play in the regular season opener.

That has been the expected decision after Burrow continued making progress from the calf strain he suffered in July. The team gave him a recovery timeline of “several weeks” upon diagnosing the injury, which left open the possibility of missed game action in September. However, the league’s newest top-paid player resumed throwing shortly thereafter and returned to practice last week.

Given those developments, it comes as little surprise that Burrow will be in place on Sunday despite the missed training camp reps. The former No. 1 pick said early this week that he expected to play in Week 1, though he added, via Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic, that the injury is one which he will have to manage (subscription required).

Burrow also said he is unsure of how long he will take to return to 100%, but his presence will be welcomed in Week 1 and throughout a season in which the Bengals are expected to be legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Cincinnati lost backup Brandon Allen in the offseason, and questions remain about who will emerge as the team’s new QB2; that competition is now between Jake Browning and recent practice squad addition Will Grier.

The Bengals will not be at full strength when they take the field against the Browns, however. Taylor ruled out edge rusher Joseph Ossai, who has been dealing with an ankle injury. The 2021 third-rounder missed his entire rookie campaign, and he will now begin his third NFL season on the injury list. Ossai missed only one game between the regular and postseason in 2022, though, logging a 32% snap share. A rotational role behind Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard will await him upon return.

Joe Burrow Returns To Bengals’ Practice

August 30th, 2023 at 8:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Bengals’ roster has seen plenty of alterations over the past few days, but a familiar face was back at practice on Wednesday. Quarterback Joe Burrow took part in team drills for the first time since his calf injury.

Given the timing of the calf strain, questions have been raised about Burrow’s availability for the start of the regular season. The team expressed optimism he would be in place for Week 1 while declining to delve into specifics regarding a timeline for return. By taking the field today, the former No. 1 pick’s absence checked in at just shy of five weeks.

Burrow resumed throwing in mid-August, signaling that he would be able to take part in full team practices not long after. Today’s news confirms that, though Jay Morrison of Pro Football Network notes that Cincinnati elected to reserve practice to 7-on-7, rather than full 11-on-11 drills. The Pro Bowler’s presence was no doubt a welcomed development for the team nevertheless.

The Bengals are again expected to be a contender in the AFC, and their success will ride in very large part on Burrow’s performance. ACL tears in his rookie season and at the conclusion of Super Bowl LVI represent red flags on his NFL resume, however. The LSU alum also missed time late last offseason while recovering from an emergency appendectomy. This latest ailment falls in between the two scenarios in terms of recovery time.

Cincinnati will resume regular practices next week, Morrison adds, and it would come as no surprise if Burrow is in place taking first-team reps at that point. Presuming that takes place, he will have plenty of time to prepare for the team’s season opener and expectations will remain high ahead of the 2023 campaign.

Bengals Could Target QB Addition

August 21st, 2023 at 10:32pm CST by Ben Levine

Neither Jake Browning nor Trevor Siemian have run away with the Bengals QB2 gig, a job that’s becoming increasingly important considering Joe Burrow‘s questionable status to start the regular season. Head coach Zac Taylor admitted that the organization could add another quarterback to the mix, but he also cautioned that introducing an outside QB to Cincy’s system could be difficult with only weeks remaining until the regular season.

“I think anything’s feasible,” Taylor said (via The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr.). “But at the same time, there are a lot of nuances to our offense when you’re asking that guy to learn that quickly and be able to operate it in a game, it’s a challenge. It’s a challenge in any system. I think it’s a challenge in our system. These guys, I like where they’re headed mentally with our system. I like where they’re headed physically in terms of operating with the urgency and the communication that we want, and the accuracy.”

As Dehner Jr. writes, the Bengals may need an outside QB to “win games the first month of the season,” and that free agent acquisition might not have enough time to pick up the offense. Further, the front office isn’t in a position to spend big on a backup quarterback, which probably eliminates some of the big names remaining in free agency.

One of the most realistic targets for the Bengals could be Brandon Allen, who spent the past three years as Burrow’s backup. The quarterback signed with the 49ers earlier this offseason, but he’s the clear QB4 on a depth chart that also includes Brock Purdy, Trey Lance, and Sam Darnold. Assuming Allen is cut loose, he’d fit the low-cost, system-familiar option that the Bengals could be seeking.

Of course, the easiest route is for one of the Bengals’ in-house options to turn into a definitive backup to Burrow. As Dehner Jr. notes, Browning has had his ups and downs during the preseason, but he’s still had a better showing than his veteran teammate. The former Vikings UDFA has spent almost two years in the Bengals organization, and Taylor said that the experience gives Browning an upper hand.

“Jake has now been here for several years,” Taylor said. “He understands the system and how you want to operate it. That’s an advantage he’s had from the jump. I think his urgency has continued to increase lately. I really like that. He does a great job just as a leader. Guys believe in him and as he moves around and operates there is a confidence there that guys have. You see that from Trevor as well. Jake, you can see why he’s had a really successful high school career, a really successful college career and he’s getting these opportunities in the league to fight his way up a depth chart really has been the story of his career.”

We heard earlier this month that Burrow is “progressing as he should” in his return from a calf sprain. Recent reports indicated that the Pro Bowler should be good to go for Week 1, but the Bengals will proceed with the utmost caution as they pursue another AFC crown.

Latest On Bengals QB Joe Burrow

August 12th, 2023 at 10:52am CST by Ben Levine

It’s been quiet on the Joe Burrow front, but the Bengals quarterback showed that he’s progressing from his calf sprain before last night’s game. As ESPN’s Ben Baby writes, Burrow had a throwing session before Friday’s preseason game against the Packers. This was the first time the quarterback has been seen throwing since suffering his injury in July.

Zac Taylor didn’t provide a whole lot of insight after the game, but he acknowledged that Burrow is “progressing as he should.” As Baby notes, Burrow returned to practice on Wednesday for the first time since suffering the leg injury, although the quarterback was obviously just a spectator on the sideline.

The entire organization held their breath when Burrow went down with a non-contact injury during a late-July practice. The quarterback was later diagnosed with a calf strain, with the Bengals asserting that he wouldn’t see the practice field for “several weeks.” Burrow is still out indefinitely, and while that’s led some panicked pundits to wonder if he could miss regular season time, Ian Rapoport reported a few weeks ago that the star quarterback should be ready for Week 1.

“He’s been rehabbing quite a bit,” offensive coordinator Brian Callahan said this week. “He’s doing a good job and to have him out at practice is always beneficial. Guys like seeing him too. I think you saw everybody excited to have him out, standing around watching.”

With Brandon Allen gone, the Bengals will be eyeing a new backup in 2023. 2022 practice-squad player Jake Browning got the first shot at the QB2 role during last night’s preseason game, connecting on 10 of his 17 pass attempts for 95 yards and one interception. Offseason acquisition Trevor Siemian later took over, going 15-of-28 for 121 yards and a pick.

Bengals Expect Joe Burrow To Miss Several Weeks

July 29th, 2023 at 2:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

JULY 29: While Taylor still refused to budge on the phrasing of “several weeks” in an interview today with Pelissero, the vibe around camp seems a bit less cautious. “Several weeks” could indicate that Burrow’s recovery could carry into the regular season, causing him to miss a few games, but Pelissero’s colleague Ian Rapoport reports that, in Cincinnati, “there doesn’t appear to be concern” about the star quarterback being ready for Week 1.

JULY 28: The Bengals will not have their superstar quarterback at practice for a while. They are expecting to be without Joe Burrow for several weeks, Zac Taylor said Friday.

Burrow suffered a calf strain during practice Thursday. After reports of the strain circulated, Taylor confirmed this is the injury. The Bengals are planning to add another quarterback, Taylor said (via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero).

Trevor Siemian and Jake Browning are the healthy Cincinnati passers presently. Set to each see first-team time, the two will enjoy more important work soon. Letting previous Burrow backup Brandon Allen walk (to the 49ers) in free agency, the Bengals signed Siemian soon after that transaction. When asked about the possibility Burrow’s absence will stretch into the regular season, the fifth-year Bengals HC did not comment.

Burrow has battled back from bigger injuries in his career, having made it back from a November 2020 ACL tear in time for the 2021 season opener. He also missed camp time due to appendicitis last year.

Wearing a sleeve on his injured leg at Thursday’s practice, Burrow went down on a noncontact play and was eventually carted off the practice field. The Bengals did not consider holding Burrow out of practice yesterday, Taylor said. While it represents good news Burrow’s injury did not affect his Achilles’ tendon, it is obviously not ideal for a Bengals team whose championship hopes hinge on their QB’s availability. Opening with a road game against the Browns, the Bengals do not begin their season for six weeks.

Camp absences have not led to Burrow missing time in the regular season. The former No. 1 overall pick has not missed a start due to injury since returning from the ACL tear. The Bengals held Burrow out of their Week 18 game in 2021. Other than that, the 2019 Heisman winner has been on the field leading the Bengals’ ascent in this span.

An experience disparity exists between the Bengals’ two backups, with Browning — a 2019 Vikings UDFA — having yet to play a regular-season game. Since being given the keys to start Denver’s Super Bowl title defense in 2016, Siemian has made 30 starts. Browning, 27, may have an uphill battle for QB2 duties, despite having been with the team since September 2021. Siemian, 31, has been with five teams — the Vikings, Jets, Titans, Saints and Bears — since his Broncos tenure ended.

This calf issue should not affect the Bengals’ timeline for Burrow’s extension; the fourth-year passer expressed patience when asked about his negotiations this week. With Justin Herbert agreeing to a $52.5MM-per-year deal with the Chargers on Tuesday night, Burrow will be expected to finish the offseason as the NFL’s highest-paid player. It will just be a matter of how much the Cincy QB moves the bar from the Herbert point. This injury figures to keep Burrow off the field until he signs that long-rumored extension.

Joe Burrow Leaves Bengals Practice With Leg Injury

July 27th, 2023 at 9:07pm CST by Ben Levine

There was a scare today during Bengals practice, as Joe Burrow went down with a leg injury before getting carted off the field. Fortunately, it sounds like the franchise quarterback avoided a serious injury. Head coach Zac Taylor told reporters that Burrow suffered a strained calf (per ESPN’s Dianna Russini on Twitter).

Per Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Inquirer, Burrow was scrambling during an 11-on-11 drill before he “hobbled to the ground” with an apparent non-contact injury. Bengals medical staff checked on the quarterback before deciding to cart him off the field.

Interestingly, Burrow was spotted wearing a black sleeve on the same leg that got injured. When asked about the sleeve, Taylor indicated that it was normal for players to relieve soreness following the first day of training camp (via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo on Twitter). In other words, it appears to just be a coincidence that Burrow injured the same knee with the sleeve (vs. the sleeve being some kind of hint that Burrow was dealing with a serious issue before going down).

It’s an unfortunate start to training camp for the quarterback. Burrow has dealt with some kind of ailment during each of the last three training camps, with the QB recovering from his ACL tear in 2021 and dealing with appendicitis (and the ensuing surgery) in 2022. Just yesterday, Burrow noted how excited he was to be fully healthy to start camp.

“Knock on wood … I feel great,” Burrow said following yesterday’s practice (via Conway). “This time last year I was sitting in a hospital bed. It’s good to be out there with the guys. Excited about where we’re at.”

Burrow’s latest injury comes in the midst of contract negotiations with the Bengals. With Justin Herbert inking a megadeal the other day, Burrow would appear to be the next in line for a record-breaking extension. Most pundits predict that Burrow will reset the QB market with his next contract, but a serious leg injury certainly would have complicated those negotiations.

If Burrow is forced to miss any time, the Bengals do have some experienced depth at quarterback. Trevor Siemian joined the team earlier this offseason, although the veteran has only started six games since 2018. Cincy is also rostering former UDFA Jake Browning.

Latest On Joe Burrow, Bengals Contract Negotiations

July 1st, 2023 at 11:37am CST by Ben Levine

The Bengals have been negotiating a new deal with Joe Burrow for months, and with the offseason all but over, the front office’s current top priority is extending their franchise quarterback.

Since we last learned in May that Burrow was taking a hands-on approach to negotiations, there haven’t been many updates. As Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic writes, there may be a reason for the holdup, with sources attributing the slow-going nature of negotiations to “outside forces at play.”

Dehner surmises that both the Bengals and Burrow may be waiting to see how Justin Herbert‘s negotiations unfold with the Chargers. That impending extension would be the “final piece of the puzzle” that would allow both Burrow and the Bengals to feel comfortable about the QB’s market.

Of course, both sides have kept negotiations “close to the vest,” and Dehner cautions that any reports on specific contract details would likely be speculation. In other words, there’s no reason for Bengals fans to fret over the lack of reports coming out of Cincinnati.

Burrow has quickly put himself in position to be one of the highest-paid QBs in the NFL, having guided the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance in 2021 before tossing a career-high 35 touchdowns during his third NFL season. Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson recently eclipsed the $50MM-per-year mark on their new contracts, and Burrow will likely be eyeing a similar payout on his next deal.

The former first-overall pick has one year remaining on his rookie pact, and he will be tied to a 2024 salary of $29.5MM given the Bengals’ decision to pick up his fifth-year option. There’s no true urgency to agree to an extension, but considering some of the other Bengals players due new contracts, some cost certainty at the QB position should only help the front office.

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