The Cincinnati Bengals find themselves in a challenging situation as they start the 2023 NFL season with an 0-2 record, and the concern deepened with star quarterback Joe Burrow’s calf injury. Unlike their previous season, where they managed to turn things around after an 0-2 start, this year presents a tougher road ahead.
Burrow, who had missed training camp due to a calf injury, signed a massive $275 million contract before the season, making him the NFL’s highest-paid player by average annual salary. However, his performance in the season opener against the Cleveland Browns left much to be desired.
While Burrow showed improvement in the Bengals’ second game, a 27-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, his calf issues resurfaced. Late in the fourth quarter, he limped off the field and was seen massaging his calf on the sideline. Though he indicated he could have returned if given the chance, the extent of the injury remains uncertain.
“It’s pretty sore,” Burrow said. “There’s no telling how it will feel. We’ll see in the next couple of days.”
Adding to Cincinnati’s woes is the fact that both of their losses this season have been to AFC North rivals, which puts them in a challenging position going into a Monday night game against the Los Angeles Rams. In contrast, only one of their first two games last season was against a division opponent.
The Bengals will have to wait for seven more games before they face another division rival, the Baltimore Ravens, on November 16.
Cincinnati’s offensive struggles were evident in their first two games, with the team failing to score an offensive touchdown until late in the third quarter of the season. The offense showed signs of life in the fourth quarter of the Ravens game, but the slow start remains a concern.
“When your quarterback misses camp, it’s tough to start fast,” Burrow acknowledged. “That’s not an ideal situation.”
Burrow, who was sacked just once against the Ravens after facing relentless pressure from Cleveland’s pass rushers in the opener, received praise from coach Zac Taylor. Taylor commended Burrow’s performance and highlighted the improved protection he received in the second game.
“I thought Burrow was great,” Taylor said. “His protection was unbelievable. I felt like we were finding a rhythm.”
However, the red-zone interception thrown by Burrow on the Bengals’ first possession of the second half proved costly.
“I thought we moved the ball well the whole game,” Burrow said. “We did some good things in the first half, and I thought we got rolling in the second half. It still comes down to that turnover in the red zone.”
Historically, NFL teams that start 0-2 face a challenging road to the playoffs, let alone making it to the AFC championship game, as the Bengals did last year. Despite the unfavorable start, Coach Taylor remains optimistic about the long season ahead.
“That’s the beauty of a 17-game season,” Taylor said. “It’s a very difficult division. This is exactly where we were last year. It’s not ideal, but there were a lot of positive things. We feel like we’re in great shape. We’ll make some corrections and adjustments and move forward.”
Burrow, too, expressed confidence in the team’s ability to bounce back, emphasizing the importance of a strong week of practice and building on their positives.
“We need to have great practices and a great week and build on that,” Burrow said. “We’re 0-2, but we’ve done that before. It’s not what you want, but we’ll bounce back. That’s what we do.”
