Bengals QB Joe Burrow to miss 'Several Weeks' due to calf strain

Bengals QB Joe Burrow to miss 'Several Weeks' due to calf strain (Image by: usatoday.com)

Joey Franchise finds himself in a period of convalescence, the exact duration of which remains uncertain.

Cincinnati Bengals' signal-caller, Joe Burrow, will be absent for "several weeks" due to a right calf strain, according to head coach Zac Taylor's declaration to the press on a Friday afternoon.

When questioned about a more precise timetable, Taylor refrained from giving one, stating, "several weeks is several weeks." However, NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo reported that it is unlikely for Burrow to miss Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns.

The injury occurred during Thursday's practice, and Burrow had to be carted off the field.

In Burrow's absence during training camp, Trevor Siemian and Jake Browning will take on the quarterback responsibilities, and the team will recruit another quarterback, as confirmed by Taylor.

Although labeling Friday's news as positive might be a stretch, it does provide some relief for the Bengals, knowing that their franchise quarterback still has more than five weeks to recover before the 2023 season's kickoff—a timeframe that, one hopes, fits within the "several weeks" bracket specified by Taylor.

Before the injury news emerged on Thursday, Burrow's name was making headlines as he was in the midst of contract extension negotiations with the Bengals. Whether or not this injury will affect those negotiations remains uncertain.

The incident that caused Burrow's injury occurred during an 11-on-11 session, where he maneuvered left and then to his right before hurting his right leg. He displayed visible discomfort as he hopped on his left leg before eventually sitting down on the practice field. Subsequently, he was carted off, and NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported shortly thereafter that Burrow had likely suffered a calf strain—an accurate diagnosis, as it turned out.

At the age of 26, Burrow has rapidly ascended from being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft to one of the premier quarterbacks in the league.

During the preceding two seasons, he has consistently achieved impressive numbers, amassing over 4,400 passing yards and 34 or more touchdowns in each of these campaigns. These remarkable performances culminated in his well-deserved selection to the prestigious Pro Bowl in 2022. Burrow's leadership led the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance in 2021 and secured back-to-back division titles for the franchise—a historic achievement.

However, injuries are not unfamiliar to Burrow, as his promising rookie season was cut short by an ACL tear in his left knee. He also faced an appendectomy at the beginning of last year's training camp.

For now, though, Friday's news is as optimistic as one could hope for, considering the scare that occurred on Thursday.

Summarise from the article by: NFL.com