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Speculation about the current headspace of Cincinnati Bengals’ franchise quarterback Joe Burrow has ramped up following a weekend in which the Bengals not only looked listless on offense, but star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase admitted to having to “uplift” Burrow.
Ja’Marr Chase’s revelation about Joe Burrow comes after a week in which comments Burrow made about “having fun playing football” again had NFL fans comparing him to Andrew Luck, who infamously and abruptly retired from football at age of 29 years old due to the tolls injuries had taken on him.
In the loss to the Ravens, Burrow completed 25 of 39 passes fo 225 yards and two interceptions, while the offense failed to score a single point, losing the game 24-0. Burrow reportedly apologized to his teammates in the locker room after the game.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase says that he now has to ‘uplift’ teammate Joe Burrow following tepid loss to the Ravens
“If I’m being honest, I’ve never been in a situation with him where I’ve had to uplift him, but going forward I might need to because he does it for me. You never know what he might be going through. I might need to start doing that,” Chase told reporters after the Bengals loss to the Ravens in which they did not score a single point.
“If I’m being honest, I’ve never been in a situation with him where I’ve had to uplift him, but going forward I might need to because he does it for me. You never know what he might be going through. I might need to start doing that.” Ja’Marr Chase on Joe Burrow pic.twitter.com/RDwsnlx28m
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) December 14, 2025
The current leading theory about Burrow is that the numerous injuries he’s suffered over the course of his career are beginning to take a mental toll on the 29-year-old former Heisman Trophy winner.
Since being drafted in 2020, Burrow has suffered from a Torn ACL, PCL, MCL & meniscus, in 2020, a dislocated finger in 2021, an MCL sprain in 2022, a calf strain and a torn wrist ligament in 2023, and most recently, his turf toe injury from earlier this year.