Which means the Cincinnati Bengals are in the midst of an existential challenge. Quarterback Joe Burrow is out at least three months after surgery on a torn ligament in his left toe. Burrow tore that ligament in his recent outing against the Jacksonville Jaguars. His highlighted performance in that game generated some justified praise, but equally as much concern. The team just released that he will have surgery on the broken toe, a move that muddies the Bengals’ 2013 season even more.
Burrow, a two-time Pro Bowler, has had a difficult go of it this year, as he’s dealt with a season-ending wrist injury in 2023. He’s thrown a combined 12 touchdowns to 7 interceptions. Completing 70.4% of his passes, he has thrown for 1,963 yards so far. His style and potential have already drawn comparisons to former NFL star Andrew Luck. This apples-to-apples comparison shows the very high expectations that are placed upon him.
Now with Burrow out of action, Jake Browning will take the reigns as the starting quarterback in Cincinnati. Browning had made seven starts while Burrow was sidelined in 2023, giving the Bengals a 4-3 record in those games. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor shared confidence in Browning’s desire to thrive when faced with pressure situations.
“The point that you turn to now is to be excited for Jake to go out there and play. He’s earned the right to be in the spotlight. Guys will rally behind him and we’ll get Jake’s best,” – Zac Taylor
The Bengals have since signed Brett Rypien away from the practice squad. He will give a boost of added support at the quarterback position with Browning. This strategic use of the phrase exemplifies the depth they were forced to acquire after Burrow’s injury.
Quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher even acknowledged the need to keep a clean roster over the course of the season.
“To me, you have to have three guys who are healthy and available to play,” – Dan Pitcher
The reality on the ground makes for a tough situation for Browning, who needs to continue keeping this young team competitive in a tight window. Analysts from ESPN, including Ben Baby, who has covered the Bengals since joining in July 2019, will be closely monitoring how Browning manages this opportunity.
As Cincinnati looks ahead to more games without their MVP caliber quarterback, the fortitude of this Bengals team will be put to the trial. Fans and analysts alike will watch closely to see if Browning can replicate Burrow’s success and lead the team effectively through this challenging period.
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