Analyst Has Grim Projection For Bengals Without Joe Burrow
After dealing with a calf strain for much of training camp, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is back on the practice field.
However, head coach Zac Taylor says Burrow is going to take it “day-to-day” right now, which means it isn’t a certainty he will suit up for Week 1.
Analyst Craig Carton sees trouble on the horizon if Burrow isn’t able to start the season, as he said Cincinnati will lose both of their first two games if they’re without their franchise QB.
“Bengals are 0-2 out of the gate.”
— @craigcartonlive reacts to Joe Burrow’s “day-by-day” injury status pic.twitter.com/Ib8WR2PQZ4
— The Carton Show (@TheCartonShow) September 5, 2023
Cincinnati has perhaps their best chance ever of winning the Super Bowl, something the franchise has never done before.
They got to the big game during the 2021 season and twice in the 1980s, only to lose on all three occasions to a team from California.
The Bengals will have a challenging start to this season by facing a talented Cleveland Browns team on the road on Sunday and hosting the Baltimore Ravens the following week.
Both teams have playoff-caliber rosters, and it isn’t easy to imagine the Bengals winning both contests with Jake Browning under center.
In an ultra-competitive AFC, they cannot afford to drop any contests they should win, but at the same time, they cannot risk rolling out Burrow before his calf is 100 percent, as doing so would mean the risk of him suffering an Achilles injury.
But if he is healthy to start the season, perhaps Cincinnati can take advantage of the defending world champion Kansas City Chiefs losing two key starters on offense, including star left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., who is now a member of the Bengals.
They will face the Chiefs in Kansas City in Week 17.
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