FILE - In this Monday, Dec. 4, 2017, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Ryan Shazier (50) is carted off the field after an injury in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, in Cincinnati. The Steelers are spending this week trying to figure out who to play at inside linebacker in place of injured Ryan Shazier. (AP Photo/Frank Victores, File)
The $275 million quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury, which the Cincinnati Bengals announced on Friday. Former University of Washington signal-caller Jake Browning and other players will take Burrow’s place.
Just before halftime of a 34-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Burrow tore ligaments in his right wrist, forcing Browning to come off the bench for just his second NFL game.
With seven games left on the schedule, the Bengals are currently 5-5. On November 26, they take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Browning has spent five seasons in the NFL, mostly as a practice-squad player for the Minnesota Vikings and the Bengals. He was a four-year starter for the Huskies from 2015 to 2018.
With 1:08 remaining in the game, he completed a 2-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Marr Chase after organizing a third-quarter drive that resulted in a field goal against Baltimore. However, other than that, he had trouble leading the Bengals down the field and was sacked three times.
Browning ran four times for forty yards and completed eight of his fourteen passes for 68 yards, including the only touchdown to Chase.
The Bengals will need to find another quarterback to take Burrow’s spot on the roster in order to compete with Browning moving forward and journeyman AJ McCarron, who was previously of Alabama. However, there aren’t many options available.
With the loss of starting quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Deshaun Watson, respectively, the Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns sought out emergency assistance at that position. Meanwhile, the New York Jets lost quarterback Aaron Rodgers to injury early in the season, the New York Giants lost Daniel Jones, and the Indianapolis Colts lost Anthony Richardson.
In the end, the Vikings acquired former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs, who last week led Minnesota to a 27-19 victory over the New Orleans Saints in his first game back. Meanwhile, Joe Flacco, the winner of the Super Bowl, is reportedly being worked out by the Browns.
