One of the things that went largely overlooked during the course of this past season was the devastating season-ending injury to Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
It happened early enough where when we finally hit the stretch run, Burrow and the Bengals were long-forgotten for the most part.
While it’s true that backup quarterback Jake Browning did a fine job keeping Cincy alive in the playoff hunt, everyone knew the Bengals weren’t going anywhere without Joe Cool.
Who else thinks Jake Browning's girlfriend destroys Travis Kelce's? 🙋♂️ pic.twitter.com/q1I54NIvZM
— Vince Langman (@LangmanVince) January 7, 2024
The Kansas City Chiefs deserve all the credit in the world for winning back-to-back Super Bowls and spitting in the face of all their doubters.
However, it’s fair to wonder how things would have shaken out if it wasn’t for Burrow’s injury.
Whether the Chiefs want to admit it or not, Burrow is their kryptonite.
Had he not gotten hurt, would the Chiefs still have won the Super Bowl? … You could certainly make a strong case they wouldn’t have.
Joe Burrow in three career games vs the Chiefs:
🐅 W17 2021:
🟠30/39
⚫️446 yards
🟠4 TDs, 0 INTs
⚫️148.0 rating🐅 AFC CG 2021:
🟠23/38
⚫️250 yards
🟠2 TDs, 1 INT
⚫️86.5 rating🐅 W13 2022:
🟠25/31
⚫️286 yards
🟠2 TDs, 0 INTs
⚫️126.6 ratingpic.twitter.com/v5g9B5iXok— PFF CIN Bengals (@PFF_Bengals) January 27, 2023
Unfortunately for Cincy, none of that matters.
The bottom line is Burrow DID get hurt. And to Kansas City’s credit, they took full advantage of the wide-open AFC.
Case closed.
The Super Bowl was rigged as usual for the Chiefs to win. As if the Taylor Swift psyop wasn’t proof enough. Watch closely as #33 fails to make a play on the wide receiver. This is another prime example of scripted nonsense from the #NFL #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/5e5v9UXe65
— MAVERICK X (@MAVERIC68078049) February 12, 2024
Luckily for Bengals fans, Burrow is well on his way to recovering from the torn ligament in his throwing hand and is expected to be back at full strength soon.
He’s been working out and is doing everything he can to get back to the elite level he was at prior to the injury.
Almost died today. A robber came into my house with a loaded gun and aimed at me. Luckily, Joe Burrow highlights were playing on the TV. He suddenly started watching and fell asleep. pic.twitter.com/DzoLKC7eDJ
— Jaecub (0-17) (@R0quan) March 5, 2024
Burrow provided an update on his recovery, expressing optimism about being cleared for full contact by mid-May.
“I think middle of May is when I am expecting to kind of be cleared for full contact and everything,” Burrow told ESPN. “Over the next month [to] month and a half, we’ll kind of decide all those things.”
Joe Burrow Redemption SZN. https://t.co/Bd7dAVuO19 pic.twitter.com/qLINyZFF1K
— Chaston Scott (@CinCity808) March 3, 2024
However, amidst Burrow’s positive outlook, sports doctor Dr. Jesse Morse has painted a bleak picture regarding the long-term effects of Burrow’s particular injury.
As frightening as it sounds, Dr. Morse believes the injury is significant enough that it will have a long-lasting effect on Burrow’s career.
“Initially it was speculated that it was a TFCC complex tear, but unfortunately it was worse, the dreaded scapholunate ligament complex tear,” Morse shared to X. “This ligament is very important for the stability of the wrist, and since this/most ligaments have a poor blood supply it needed to be repaired.”
“I asked an orthopedic hand surgeon colleague his thoughts on this injury as it pertains to Burrow and here was his response: ‘It’s a bad injury to have, invariably always lead to some instability over time and arthritis at an earlier age.'”
“Did this injury change his career forever? … ‘Yes, for sure.'”
“For context, he’s the only pro QB I’ve heard of with this, so it’s hard to gauge.”
Joe Burrow #Bengals injury update
Burrow suffered a season-ending right scapholunate ligament tear in his throwing wrist on November 16, 2023 against the Baltimore Ravens.
Initially it was speculated that it was a TFCC complex tear, but unfortunately it was worse, the dreaded… pic.twitter.com/QlNIsTvtme
— Jesse Morse, MD (@DrJesseMorse) March 3, 2024
It should be noted that many fans were quick to dismiss Dr. Morse’s outlook.
Many even accused him of using Burrow’s injury to seek attention and clicks…
“Hey “Doc”, is it this area he injured?”
Hey "Doc", is it this area he injured? pic.twitter.com/wEhPzklDGE
— MrMeow (@TheReal_MrMeow) March 4, 2024
“I’ll listen when you tell me you’re treating his injury, or on the team making decisions regarding Burrow’s health … Until then, hearsay and conjecture are nothing but clickbait.”
I’ll listen when you tell me you’re treating his injury, or on the team making decisions regarding Burrow’s health.
Until then, hearsay and conjecture are nothing but clickbait. pic.twitter.com/wWNg7S4IFL
— Tony – De La Cruz Fever (@s001awt) March 4, 2024
“What an amazing take for engagement farming … See that sales pitch at the end to. Not even mad at you considering how blatantly obvious your motive is … Hope it works out for you lol.”
What an amazing take for engagement farming.
See that sales pitch at the end to. Not even mad at you considering how blatantly obvious your motive is.
Hope it works out for you lol
— st. gotinearly24.eth (OK21) (@gotinearly24) March 4, 2024
“It’s 2024, and a doctor has NEVER heard of a Pro QB with this injury? … If a doctor can take a knee ligament out of a donor corpse, and repair a pro NFL player’s knee… and he comes back & is 100%, Burrow will be fine.”
It's 2024, and a doctor has NEVER heard of a Pro QB with this injury?
If a doctor can take a knee ligament out of a donor corpse, and repair a pro NFL player's knee… and he comes back & is 100%, Burrow will be fine.
— ⚾️ Reds It's Time to Retire #19 ⚾️ (@WillLew51464805) March 4, 2024
“The amount of chiefs fans on this thread is pure comedy. They just won another Super Bowl, yet their on this thread praying and wishing for Burrow’s down fall. Chiefs fan’s insecurities about the Joe Burrow led Bengals, owning them, is funnier by the day!”
The amount of chiefs fans on this thread is pure comedy. They just won another Super Bowl, yet their on this thread praying and wishing for Burrow’s down fall. Chiefs fan’s insecurities about the Joe Burrow led Bengals, owning them, is funnier by the day!
— Jesse Tyler (@Jsalllll) March 4, 2024
What are your thoughts on Burrow’s injury?
Do you think he’ll be just fine and quickly regain his old form?
Or do you think there’s something to Dr. Morse’s concerns?
Where do you rank (a healthy) Burrow among the top quarterbacks in the NFL?
If you had to win ONE GAME, and all things were equal, would you rather have Joe Burrow or Patrick Mahomes at quarterback???
After the Super Bowl, I got into it with my guys Keyshawn and Michael Irvin because I STILL believe with my heart and soul that Joe Burrow is just a little better than Mahomes. I can back it up and I can prove it:
pic.twitter.com/X7SFfwafZY— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) March 4, 2024