Amid the celebration in Cincinnati for the Bengals’ 34-31 win over the Chiefs on Sunday, there was a lull for concern after quarterback Joe Burrow touched him on the knee.
On fourth and goal with 50 seconds to go, Burrow threw a pass to Tyler Boyd in the end zone for a possible touchdown lead. The pass was incomplete, but a penalty to the Chiefs for illegal use of the hands gave the Bengals a first down.
Burrow fell to the ground during the construction. He put his hand to his right knee before limping to the touchline. Backup quarterback Brandon Allen came in to kneel and hit the ball to set up Evan McPherson’s game-winning field goal.
Here’s the latest on the Bengals’ starting quarterback:
Joe Burrow injury update
Cincinnati fans can enjoy the celebration without worrying about their quarterback.
Burrow said that after the game he felt “pretty good” and confirmed that he hurt his right knee. His rookie season ended in November 2020 when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament and his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
“It was my right knee that hurt a little bit after the Chargers game (in Week 13), I think it was, so (I) made it a bit worse. Nothing serious,” Burrow said.
Bengals fans have certainly had reason to be concerned about his health this season. Burrow entered the week having been sacked 47 times, most in the NFL. The Chiefs added four more to Sunday’s total. Burrow extended his “lead” over the Titans’ Ryan Tannehill, who is 46 years after Tennessee’s 34-3 win over the Dolphins. No other quarterback has been sacked more than 38 times this season.
Burrow has earned the affection of Cincinnati fans since he was selected first overall in 2020. This season, he has set Cincinnati records with 34 passing touchdowns and 4,611 passing yards. The Bengals won their first AFC North title since 2015 on Sunday and swept both the Ravens and Steelers in the same season for the first time since 2009.
Burrow will face the Browns in Week 18 to conclude the regular season. Then he and the Bengals will move on to the postseason, where they will compete for their first playoff victory since 1990.