The NFL is investigating whether the Cincinnati Bengals hid a Joe Burrow wrist injury, league sources confirmed to The Athletic. Here’s what you need to know:
- Burrow appeared to be in pain after throwing a touchdown pass to running back Joe Mixon in the second quarter of the Bengals’ loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
- He went to the medical tent after the play then attempted to throw passes on the sideline but was unable to, and was later ruled out.
- The Amazon Video broadcast showed a brief clip of Burrow prior to the game appearing to have his wrist in some sort of brace.
- The investigation starts Friday. The league is expected to look at photos and practice video, as well as speak to people within the organization to determine if there was any wrongdoing, according to league sources.
The NFL is looking into why Joe Burrow wasn’t on the injury report for the Bengals this past week, per sources. The investigation starts today. They will be looking at photos, practice video, and speaking to people with the organization to decide if there was any wrong doing.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) November 17, 2023
Why is the NFL doing this?
The NFL decided to do this because of the video and social post (then deleted) of the compression sleeve or whatever it was he wore on the bus to and on the team plane.
Obviously, practice video will inevitably show what they need to see, but Burrow was not limited during practices last week and threw every day. They held one practice in the stadium on Tuesday night open to media for the first 30 minutes and a walkthrough on Wednesday not open to media. He was not wearing anything at the practice or at availability open to media. Everything looked ordinary during pregame on the field. — Paul Dehner Jr., Bengals senior writer
Backstory
Bengals coach Zac Taylor said after the game that it looked like Burrow sprained his wrist.
Amazon’s Kaylee Hartung reported during the game that Burrow could not “grip the ball and could not raise his elbow.”
Burrow was 11-of-17 passing for 101 yards and a score before leaving the game. He was replaced by backup quarterback Jake Browning, who finished 8-of-14 passing for 68 yards and a touchdown.
Required reading
(Photo: Rob Carr / Getty Images)
