Joe Burrow did not look like himself during the NFL season-opener on Sunday. The Cincinnati Bengals lost by six at home to the New England Patriots in their quarterback’s first game back from a wrist injury.
It was not a great showing from a team that missed the playoffs without its franchise signal-caller last season.
Burrow suffered a torn scapholunate ligament in his right wrist during the first half of the Bengals’ Week 11 game against the Ravens. He was placed on injured reserve the very next day and immediately underwent surgery to repair the tear. It took him until early May to rejoin the team for practice.
By all accounts, Burrow’s wrist healed properly. Cincinnati did not have any cause for concern during the offseason or training camp. His first drive back on the field during the preseason went for a touchdown.
Despite what the team and its star quarterback said about his wrist, Burrow finished with only 164 yards in the loss to New England in Week 1. The deep ball just wasn’t there. He wasn’t whipping the ball around the yard in the same way we have become accustom. Only six passes were thrown more than seven yards down the field.
Perhaps that was part of the game plan. Perhaps it was Burrow taking what he could get.
Or… maybe… it was his wrist.
He dismissed any questions about the injury during postgame. Burrow was quick to move on from the topic. Everything feels good.
They were doing a good job keeping everything in front. I’ve got to take what the defense gives me.
— Joe Burrow
Despite what their quarterback is saying publicly about his not-so-distant injury, one particular video from the loss is inducing panic amongst Bengals fans. Burrow was messing with his wrist throughout the game. It at one point looked like he struggled to pick up a water bottle.
I watched CIN/Joe Burrow:
— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) September 9, 2024
1. Got an early test of placing his right hand down to recover a fumble. Did fine with it
2. Good velocity/accuracy on throws <8 yards
3. Good velocity/accuracy on throws <15-18 yards
4. The TD pass (bobbled) to Gesicki in the corner for 15 yards was… pic.twitter.com/WefpHX6MfT
Regular stiffness and swelling in the wrist, which was reported by CBS, is to be expected. His indecision on whether or not to wear a glove is part of the process. He has to get comfortable. This scapholunate ailment is likely something that Joe Burrow will have to deal with for the rest of his career, even if it does not prevent him from throwing the ball at full strength.
The good news is that Jeff Mueller, a Doctor of Physical Therapy who often comments on sports injuries as a “fantasy football injury analyst,” did not see the clip as reason to freak out. He is not overly worried about Burrow’s wrist in the short term or long term.
I watched CIN/Joe Burrow:
- Got an early test of placing his right hand down to recover a fumble. Did fine with it
- Good velocity/accuracy on throws <8 yards
- Good velocity/accuracy on throws <15-18 yards
- The TD pass (bobbled) to Gesicki in the corner for 15 yards was a phenomenal throw
- Next play, threw a dart to Tanner Hudson (he fumbled, should’ve been a TD)
- 4:11 left in the 3rd, had a throw rolling out to his left 15yds that was money, but Iosivas couldn’t hold on to it
- Didn’t throw deep very often. Majority of his passes seemed dialed up for quick darts in the 4-8 yard range. But his deep throws looked fairly good (velocity, spiral, no wounded ducks, no wildly inaccurate throws).
Overall he threw a lot of tight spirals and right where only his WRs could get it, it seemed. His throws in the 10-20 yard range looked really good. Curious how it’ll go with volume, but I think there are better days ahead for Joe Burrow.
My guess is people were freaked out about seeing this video. Looks like a guy fidgeting with something that had bothered him for a while. Did not hinder throwing ability. Velocity/accuracy did not seem to regress as the game went on.
Main concern: why minimal deep shots?
— @jmthrivept on X
But the throws he did have all looked pretty good to be honest.
For now, I believe the wrist is fine.
By all accounts, the Bengals’ loss to the Patriots was not a result of Joe Burrow’s surgically-repaired wrist. It was Week 1. Neither team played particularly well. The losing side is still trying to work out some kinks.
But with that being said, Cincinnati’s $275 million quarterback will be highly-scrutinized all season. Keep an eye on his wrist because it will never quite be the same.