Joe Burrow wrist injury: Can Bengals still make playoffs?،
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is out for the season with a torn ligament in his throwing wrist, the team announced Friday. The news comes as a shock to an organization that entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations after back-to-back trips to the AFC Championship Game following the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
This isn’t the first time this year the Bengals have had to deal with an injury to Burrow. Two days into training camp, Burrow suffered a right calf strain that kept him out of action for the preseason. He started the season opener – a 24-3 loss to the Cleveland Browns – and struggled early before returning to his best form in recent weeks and putting the Bengals back on track for the playoffs .
Friday’s news, however, puts a serious dent in the Bengals’ playoff hopes and all but ends their title aspirations.
According to ESPN BET, the Bengals were +375 to win the AFC North heading into Thursday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens, in which Burrow was knocked out with an injury in the second quarter. They were 25-1 as of Friday morning and improved to 75-1 after the Bengals announced Burrow would miss the remainder of the season. Their Super Bowl odds have gone from 12-1 to 22-1 to 150-1 over the same period.
But while Cincinnati’s immediate future may look bleak, the Bengals aren’t out of the playoff picture just yet. Here are three reasons why they will – and won’t – reach the playoffs.
THE CASE FOR…
Cincinnati has a solid receiving trio
Backup quarterback Jake Browning finds himself in a situation that should help him succeed. The Bengals have built one of the best receiving units in the NFL.
Ja’Marr Chase reached the Pro Bowl in his first two seasons and commands double teams every week. Tee Higgins accumulated over 3,000 receiving yards in his first three seasons and showed good form before missing the last two games with a hamstring injury. Tyler Boyd has been one of the most reliable slot receivers in the NFL. Add in Trenton Irwin, who has proven to be a capable No. 4 receiver when put into action, and Browning will have no shortage of options.
“I’ve been on scout teams for a while,” Browning said after Thursday’s game. “You make the worst play against the worst look, so it was good to go and make some plays and I have all these people open.”
Tanner Hudson has also burst onto the scene in recent weeks. In five games, he had 18 catches for 175 yards, numbers that show why he was moved from the practice squad to the active roster on November 1.
Browning does not lack confidence
Even in an intimidating situation — facing the NFL’s No. 2 defense in a divisional showdown Thursday night, Browning wasn’t fazed. After all, this is someone who set California prep records for passing yards (16,775) and touchdowns (229), then broke records in those same categories at the University of Washington (12,296 yards, 94 touchdowns).
“I have a lot of confidence in myself,” Browning said after the loss to the Ravens. “I think I’m borderline delusional when it comes to optimism – like, ‘Hey, I’m going to win the game.'”
That bravado is something Bengals coaches and teammates admire, including Burrow. Burrow said Browning’s even-keeled demeanor is one of the reasons they are such good friends. And Boyd said if his quarterback feels good, it gives confidence to those around him.
“As long as that quarterback is confident and he’s sitting there and he’s willing to do magic and do whatever he has to do to help us win and lead us, I’m always going to follow along and do what I can to help him,” Boyd said.
You just have to believe it!
After the game against the Ravens, Boyd noted that other backup quarterbacks have had success in recent years. Examples include Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers and Joshua Dobbs of the Minnesota Vikings, who is on his third team this season and recently played a key role in the Vikings’ victory over the New Orleans Saints in the week 10.
Burrow has meant everything to the franchise since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2020. But in the wake of his injury, the Bengals are proclaiming their belief that they can still be a playoff contender.
“We have a lot of talent on this team and this season is far from over,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said Friday. “I can’t wait to see how the guys react next week.”
THE CASE AGAINST…
The team struggled without Burrow
The numbers aren’t in Cincinnati’s favor when Burrow isn’t on the field. Since 2020, the Bengals are 2-5 while Burrow has not started. When Burrow’s previous replacements, Ryan Finley and Brandon Allen, took over, Cincinnati averaged 1.33 points per drive and a 14.7 percent touchdown rate, according to ESPN Stats & Information. In Burrow’s debut, those numbers rose to 2.15 points per drive and touchdowns on 24.5 percent of drives.
The offense will work under Browning like it did under Burrow, Taylor said. Cincinnati needs to build on Browning’s experience with coaches and players dating back to 2021, translating into yards and points.
“I prepared like I was going to be the guy here for 2 1/2 years now in the same offense,” Browning said Friday.
The defense has taken a step back
Even if Burrow were healthy, the defense poses a massive threat to Cincinnati’s playoff hopes. Burrow’s $275 million contract extension and Chase’s impending extension mean there hasn’t been as much spending on defense, which has allowed younger players to fill important roles.
While players such as cornerback DJ Turner and safety Dax Hill have shown glimpses, the unit has been porous as a whole. Cincinnati has allowed the second-most yards per play (6.1) and is 23rd in points allowed per drive.
Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s unity has been a major reason for Cincinnati’s playoff success over the past two seasons. But the current iteration of the defense is too reliant on turnovers to get stops.
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The schedule is still one of the busiest in the NFL
Cincinnati has faced the toughest schedule in the NFL to date and the slate doesn’t get much easier. According to ESPN Analytics, as of Friday, the Bengals had the eighth-toughest remaining schedule. And the numbers changed sharply against Cincinnati after Burrow’s injury.
Cincinnati is projected to be the underdog in six of its final seven games, according to ESPN Analytics. The exception is a Week 14 home game against the Indianapolis Colts. The Bengals still have to face the Jacksonville Jaguars and Kansas City Chiefs on the road and have three AFC North games remaining, including two against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Even though Burrow finished the Ravens’ loss healthy, Cincinnati was going to be on the outside looking in on the playoff situation.
Having already played on Thursday, the Bengals will look to take advantage of the extra rest as they prepare for a home game against the Steelers on November 26. “Obviously this longer weekend comes at a good time for us,” Taylor said Friday. “It’s a chance to regroup, get healthy and come back next week ready to attack Pittsburgh.”
