Vincent Frank
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow pulled up lame during training camp practice on Thursday after suffering a non-contact injury late in the session.
There was initial concern that the injury might be serious. Cincinnati found itself relieved when Burrow was diagnosed with a calf strain.
The news is not as good one day after the injury occurred. In speaking to reporters on Friday, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor indicated that he expects Burrow to be sidelined “several weeks.”
Taylor was asked if this means it will take Burrow into the regular season. His response? “Several weeks is several weeks.”
Since being selected No. 1 overall by Cincinnati in the 2020 NFL Draft, Burrow has proven to be among the best quarterbacks in the NFL. This three-year span has seen him tally 82 touchdowns compared to 31 interceptions. The former Heisman winner was even better in 2022.
Joe Burrow stats (2022): 68% completion, 4,475 yards, 35 TD, 12 INT
As short as Taylor was in his response, it makes sense for the Bengals to play this close to the vest. Remember, Burrow missed the final six games of his rookie season with a torn ACL and MCL. While this is the different leg, caution will likely be the name of the game.
For Burrow, this comes at a time when he’s in negotiations with the Bengals on a deal that will likely make the 26-year-old signal caller the highest-paid player in the NFL. It also comes mere days after fellow 2020 draftee Justin Herbert inked a five-year, $262.5 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Chargers, resetting the quarterback market as we know it.
Related: Ranking Joe Burrow and the NFL’s 32 starting QBs
It’s not yet known whether Burrow will take to the field again short of a new contract being inked. He’s set to play under the fifth-year option of his rookie deal valued at $29.5 million.
As for the Bengals’ quarterback situation, veteran Trevor Siemian is seen as QB2 behind Burrow. He’s followed in the pecking order by youngster Jake Browning. There’s a chance Cincinnati looks to add a veteran now that it has more information on Burrow’s injury.
