Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will sit out Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Cleveland Browns with a sore right knee but gave assurances he will be on the field when the playoffs begin later this month.
Burrow twisted his knee late in Sunday’s 34-31 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs as the Bengals clinched the AFC North title.
The second-year QB has been on fire of late. Burrow has combined for 971 yards passing over his last two games with eight touchdowns and no interceptions. He has 4,611 passing yards this season to shatter the Bengals’ franchise record.
When asked if his knee could keep him out of the playoffs, Burrow said, “that wouldn’t be a factor.”
“My knee is — I mean, it’s sore, but it’s not bad,” Burrow said. “I could play if I needed to.”
Veteran backup Brandon Allen, who is 2-6 as a starter with the Bengals and Denver Broncos, is expected to start.
The Bengals also will be without running back Joe Mixon, who tested positive for COVID-19, according to multiple reports.
Cincinnati placed five players on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday: safety Vonn Bell, linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither, defensive end Trey Hendrickson, center Trey Hopkins and guard Quinton Spain.
Mixon ranks second in the NFL with a career-high 1,205 rushing yards and is fourth with 13 rushing touchdowns.
The Bengals have reached the playoffs for the first time since 2015. They haven’t won a playoff game since a 41-14 wild-card victory over the Houston Oilers in 1990.
–Field Level Media