Bengals QB Joe Burrow admitted his calf injury scared him and he thought he was 'done'
When Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow went down with an injury at training camp late last month, the entire football world held its breath. Bengals fans were obviously the most anxious about Burrow's condition after the injury, but everyone who enjoys the sport instantly had concern that the NFL could lose one of its biggest […]
When Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow went down with an injury at training camp late last month, the entire football world held its breath.
Bengals fans were obviously the most anxious about Burrow's condition after the injury, but everyone who enjoys the sport instantly had concern that the NFL could lose one of its biggest stars for the 2023 season.
Fortunately for the Bengals (and the NFL), Burrow's injury, which was revealed to be a calf strain, isn't expected to keep the former LSU standout away from the field for too long. While we don't know exactly when Burrow will return, he's expected to be ready for the start of the season (though it's not a certainty that he'll play against the Cleveland Browns in Week One).
Joe Burrow wasn't certain he was ok immediately after the injury
Immediately after Burrow suffered the calf injury, he gave wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (Burrow's former teammate at LSU) a nod that Chase interpreted as a sign that Cincinnati's franchise quarterback would be ok.
“He gave me the nod. I wasn't really worried. I believe he's alright,” said Chase the day that Burrow suffered the injury.
While Chase may not have been concerned, there was definitely some concern from Burrow.
Former Bengals offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth, who also played at LSU (12 years before Burrow and Chase did), appeared on The Rich Eisen Show this week and he detailed the conversation he had with Burrow after the injury.
"I talked to him the day it happened," explained Whitworth. "And, you know, Joe being who he is — he's just such an intense guy. He was like, 'man, it really did scare me at first'."
"I actually reached out — at first I hadn't spoke to him yet," added Whitworth. "Just more like 'hey, just whatever's happened, [I'm] thinking about you. I'm there any way I could be there for you'. And, then he kind of shared like 'I'm gonna be okay', but man, it was scary….I mean he thought it, too (that it was serious). That's what he thought. He thought 'I'm done'."
Burrow, to his credit, played it cool — just like any elite leader should — but it's clear that there was nervousness from the superstar quarterback about whether or not he would be alright.
The former Heisman Trophy winner is lucky that he avoided a serious injury. The NFL is lucky, too. The last thing anyone wants to see this fall is an NFL season without Joey B.
Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase should be even more of a fan favorite after dropping great offseason quote
Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase should be even more of a fan favorite after dropping a great offseason quote
Featured image via Kareem Elgazzar/The Cincinnati Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
