Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Bengals' Joe Burrow provides major update on calf injury

By Clark Dalton | Last updated 10/4/23

Amid concerns about his nagging calf injury, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow provided a positive update, which should inspire confidence in Cincinnati fans.

"This is the best I've felt after a game. So I am optimistic," the QB said Wednesday, per Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic.

If Burrow's truly recuperating, it's ideal for the Bengals because their season is on the brink. Even though they were viewed as a Super Bowl contender before the season, they're 1-3 and suffered a deflating 27-3 loss to the Tennessee Titans in Week 4.

You see this comin' at ya wyd?

: Watch #CINvsTEN on @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/lFrFRZ6CJm
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) October 1, 2023

Many of the team's problems are tied to Burrow's injury hindering him. Among 34 qualifying QBs, he is 30th in QBR (33.6), 32nd in completion percentage (57.6%) and last in yards per attempt (4.8).

Since Burrow looks hobbled, some believe they should bench the highest-paid player in the league to let him heal.

"You've got your franchise QB. You're putting him in jeopardy, and he's not helping," Nick Wright said Monday on "First Things First." "This is franchise malpractice. You are getting none of the benefits and all of the risks. You have to sit him and hope you win."

The concerns about Burrow are valid since the former Pro Bowler doesn't look like a franchise cornerstone. Plus, he may feel pressure to play through injury to prove he deserves the five-year, $275M contract extension he received this offseason.

Despite the 26-year-old saying he's feeling better, the Bengals should still exercise caution. If he fails to progress, they should shut him down and let him recover. The organization doesn't want injuries to dismantle a young, talented player who could eventually carry it to its first Super Bowl title.

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