Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said Wednesday that his appendix ruptured, leading to the urgent procedure on July 26.
Burrow addressed the situation for the first time since undergoing the appendectomy, saying it was not the typical situation.
“It wasn’t normal appendicitis that you hear about,” Burrow told reporters. “I didn’t really feel much. Just getting checked out and had some discomfort so we thought we’d get it checked out. Turns out I had it. So we had to get it fixed.”
Spending time in the hospital wasn’t much to Burrow’s liking, especially with his teammates out on the field getting ready for the 2022 season.
“You’re in a hospital for however many days and you start to feel like a sick person,” Burrow said. “So you want to get back out with the guys and feel healthy again.”
Burrow wouldn’t reveal how much weight he lost but said he is still trying to regain strength.
Doctors allowed him to toss footballs two weeks after the procedure and on Sunday, he participated in part of practice for the first time.
Burrow took part in individual drills and took all the throws in a 7-on-7 drill. He said he didn’t have the necessary velocity on his throws.
“When they cut into you and do all that stuff, your core is going to lose some muscle and some strength (so) just getting that back,” Burrow said.
Burrow isn’t expected to see any action in the preseason. The plan is for him to be at full strength for the Week 1 home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 11.
“We have a good plan as far as nutrition and weight room and all that stuff,” Burrow said. “I feel good right now and just going to keep feeling better.”
The 25-year-old Burrow enters this season as a top-flight quarterback after leading the Bengals to the Super Bowl in his second NFL season. The club lost to the Los Angeles Rams 23-20.
The NFL Comeback Player of the Year completed a league-high 70.4 percent of his passes while establishing franchise records of 4,611 passing yards and 34 touchdown passes. He was intercepted 14 times.
Burrow had his rookie season end after 10 games due to tearing the ACL and MCL in his left knee.
–Field Level Media