It\u2019s safe to say Bengals fans are living their worst nightmare. Joe Burrow injured\u2026again.<\/p>\n
Joe was healthy all through the offseason, OTAs, and training camp. Everyone got their well-deserved contract extensions\u2026 sort of. And we were all preparing for a healthy and successful season.<\/p>\n
Well, that didn\u2019t last long.<\/p>\n
That ended when Burrow scrambled every which way to avoid tacklers, until Arik Armstead grabbed him by the ankle and dragged him to the turf. I think it\u2019s safe to say everyone\u2019s heart sank into their stomach when they saw Burrow still sitting on the ground after the play. It got worse when he wasn\u2019t putting any pressure on it and was helped off the field with the assistance of trainers.<\/p>\n
BUT, it wasn\u2019t the absolute worst-case scenario. Jake Browning jumped into the QB1 role and led the Bengals to their second straight win of this early season. Sure, he wasn\u2019t perfect by any means, but he got the job done, that\u2019s all anybody can ask for.<\/p>\n
Now, the team prepares this week to travel up to Minnesota to face the Vikings. Ironically enough, Browning has faced both of these teams. Back in 2023, he took charge and beat the Jaguars on the road and the Vikings at home.<\/p>\n
During this stint a couple of years ago, the Bengals went 4-3. He also led the league in completion percentage during that time.<\/p>\n
Understandably, most, if not all, fans were and are very upset. Despite winning the game and ending up 2-0, we were in a nightmare. Monday morning, we all woke up and realized, unfortunately, it wasn\u2019t a dream, and it actually happened.<\/p>\n
Of course, for us fans, we were all hoping for a minor injury and to be out for a few weeks max, but that\u2019s not Cincinnati\u2019s luck. We all got the same news the next day, finding out he would be out for 3 months.<\/p>\n
Now it\u2019s time to wake up, get back to reality, and realize Browning is this city\u2019s temporary QB1, and also realize it could be a lot worse. Not too many backup quarterbacks can jump in that role and be the league\u2019s leader in completion percentage in a 7-week window as Browning did a couple of years ago, and it wasn\u2019t a fluke, because he did the same thing Sunday when he threw for 241 yards with a passing touchdown and a game-winning rushing touchdown, despite three interceptions.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m asking you simply as another fan, to watch any football show because it\u2019s all the same stuff. They will talk about the Bengals, and it\u2019s immediately nothing but \u201ctheir season is over\u201d and \u201cBrowning may be good, but he\u2019s not Burrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
They\u2019re not wrong on certain things, but the season is far from over. Browning is our man, and we have to stick with him.<\/p>\n
Not only could it not be worse for us with a different QB2, but we could have the same, or worse, defense than last year. If you even have the audacity to tell me the defense is not better than last year, you\u2019re lying to me and yourself.<\/p>\n
Trust me, it\u2019s not much better, but they are definitely better. There are definitely things to clean up. There always is, but they are better.<\/p>\n
Time to rally our Browning and go win some games.<\/p>\n