Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was effectively sidelined for the remainder of the 2020 season after being taken off the pitch in Sunday’s 20-9 defeat to Washington Football Team. Burrow sustained a left leg injury in the third quarter after being crushed by two Washington defenders who met on him in a third and second pass attempt.
Burrow tweeted on Sunday afternoon, thanking people for support and suggesting they are done in 2020. “Thanks for all the love,” Burrow said. “Can’t get rid of me that easy. See ya next year.”
The adjustments have been made, and the first overall pick in the 2020 concept was on track to become the first-ever rookie in league history with six passing 300m games in his first 10 games. Instead, the future of Burrow’s rookie season is now in question following the injury. Burrow passed 22 of 34 for 203 yards, one touchdown, and one fumble before falling in the third quarter.
After throwing a powerful pass intended for Bengali receiver Tyler Boyd, Washington’s defensive linemen Montez Sweat and Jonathan Allen Burrow hit opposite sides. Allen hit a block to Burrow’s left, while Allen came from the right to shoot Burrow. Almost immediately, Burrow clutched his left leg when Bengals manager Zac Taylor checked out the franchise star’s quarterback.
As Burrow was led away, the Bengals’ entire sideline approached the quarterback to cheer him on. Supporters also included Chase Young of Washington, Terry McLaurin, and Dwayne Haskins. They played with Burrow in Ohio State before moving on to LSU and ultimately leading the Tigers from bagging a national title.
Burrow was quickly excluded from the game and replaced by sophomore quarterback Ryan Finley.
Cincinnati had been hoping Burrow would be the next cornerstone of the franchise when the Bengals chose the Southeast Ohio product with the first pick in the April draft. As soon as Burrow officially arrived in Cincinnati, it was clear he would be the team’s first-week rookie. The Bengals have released veteran Andy Dalton, the team’s second-round in the 2011 draft, and have not added another veteran quarterback.
In Burrow’s first 10 games, the rookie showcased why he is the model of so much hope in a franchise that hasn’t brought home the bacon on a playoff game since January 1991. The ESPN Stats & Information reported that Burrow is ranked fourth in NFL history for most passing yards in a player’s first 10 games (2,688 yards, including Sunday’s game total). In a Week 7 loss to Cleveland, Burrow threw 406 yards for a season-high, which matches Andrew Luck’s 2012 record for most 300-yard passing games in a rookie season.
Cincinnati’s extraordinary power to protect Burrow was one of the biggest questions at the start of the 2020 season. On Sunday, Cincinnati entered 28th place in the NFL in terms of win rate per pass block, an ESPN metric provided by NFL NextGen.
If Burrow is unavailable for an extended period, it will slow down Cincinnati’s rebuilding project, which focuses on the rookie quarterback. He could also become the first top overall rookie to sustain a severe injury from Jadeveon Clowney, who played four games in 2014 before undergoing microfracture surgery to undergo right knee surgery.
