What began with audible gasps ended with hurricane-force exhales round Cincinnati and past Thursday night when exams on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s injured left leg, per a workforce supply, revealed only a calf pressure.
Joe Burrow Receives Constructive Information on Harm, Workforce Is Ready for His Absence
After being evaluated by trainers and medical doctors, Burrow attended his common post-practice conferences and left Paycor Stadium concurrently the remainder of his teammates had been submitting out round 7:45 p.m.
How a lot time Burrow will miss is but to be decided, however no matter it finally ends up being will really feel like a come-from-behind, last-second win after the preliminary sight of him crumpling to the bottom and full lack of any sound afterward.
Non-contact accidents, such because the one Burrow suffered, typically might be probably the most devastating. However this one will not be believed to be severe. Burrow had simply began sprinting to his proper after being flushed from the pocket. He took three steps, grimaced, and started hopping on his left foot earlier than going to the bottom, drawing what middle Ted Karras stated was “a number of audible gasps” from a bunch of males who have interaction in hours of violence on a weekly foundation.
Paradoxically, the harm within the open area got here one play after there was some gentle contact within the pocket when defensive finish Joseph Ossai beat the safety and grabbed Burrow to kill the play somewhat than operating previous him. Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton instantly rushed over to speak to Ossai, presumably reminding him of the road former offensive coordinator Jay Gruden told James Harrison on a 2013 episode of Laborious Knocks – “Don’t contact the merchandise.”
No matter the truth that Burrow nonetheless hasn’t signed the contract extension that’s anticipated to make him the highest-paid participant in NFL historical past when it comes to annual common wage, he’s unquestionably probably the most precious piece of merchandise on the shelf.
That’s why the Bengals gave left sort out Orlando Brown Jr. $64.1 million {dollars} in free company, together with a franchise-record signing bonus of $31 million.
However there are a number of methods to guard an funding, and one of many cheaper, extra ignored strikes the Bengals made this offseason might find yourself being some of the precious. That may be the addition of quarterback Trevor Siemian practically two months after free company started.
The Bengals signed Siemian to a one-year, $1.3 million contract on Might 3, greater than three weeks into the voluntary offseason program. The coaches knowledgeable Siemian and Jake Browning, who’s getting into his third season in Cincinnati, that each quarterbacks will get a good variety of reps and have an equal alternative to win the job as Burrow’s backup.
Browning received the majority of the reps Wednesday, whereas Thursday, it was Siemian’s flip. When Burrow went down, it was Browning who took over because the workforce moved the drill just a few ft away from the trainers Burrow and continued follow.
We’ll see how head coach Zac Taylor and offensive coordinator Brian Callahan use the duo, however there ought to be a degree of consolation figuring out an offense that hit the turf at full velocity has a quarterback in Siemian with not solely 30 careers begins within the league, however a working data of the scheme after spending a yr working alongside Callahan in Denver.
“Having that prior relationship is big. Any sort of familiarity is big,” Siemian stated after Thursday’s follow. “On this league, you’re ravenous for continuity, they usually’ve had it right here for some time. I be ok with the whole lot we’ve completed to this point. Within the spring, we had a very good basis, even with me coming in late.”
Final yr at the moment, Burrow was in a hospital mattress recovering from an appendectomy, and the offense struggled with Brandon Allen and Browning operating issues for the three weeks Burrow missed. All of it performed a job within the workforce’s sluggish 0-2 begin that in the end value them an opportunity to host a couple of playoff recreation and maybe an opportunity to return to the Tremendous Bowl.
There’s no indication that Burrow’s calf pressure will trigger him to overlook three weeks, however it will be laborious for that scare to not not less than partially enter the equation if he nonetheless stays in contract limbo on the extension.
Both manner, the Bengals ought to be in a lot better fingers, in comparison with final offseason, with Siemian and an improved Browning operating the preparations for the common season for nonetheless many camp practices Burrow misses.
“A whole lot of guys are of their second yr within the system,” Karras stated. “A whole lot of the receivers have a number of years now, it’s not an entire new O-line. So we’re feeling good.”
