With Joe Burrow injury, the Bengals are left with uncertain future

Without Joe Burrow, the Cincinnati Bengals have a dark immediate future and questions abound going forward.

It took only minutes for the Cincinnati Bengals to rule out Joe Burrow after he was carted off. When that happens, it likely describes the severity of the injury.

The rookie took a shot from a pair of Washington defenders in the third quarter and immediately reached for his leg. In a lost season for the Bengals, Burrow was the one constant that drew attention towards the fanbase. For now, it looks like his year could be over.

A rookie quarterback will go through the lumps if the team doesn’t build around them. Once again, Cincinnati’s offensive line has been a disaster in pass protection no matter which five linemen they decide to roll with. Entering Sunday, the unit has allowed Burrow to be sacked 32 times, third-most in the NFL.

Questions surround the team moving forward

Burrow’s season was phenomenal when looking at what he was working with. Through nine games the LSU product tallied 2,485 passing yards and 12 touchdowns against five interceptions. What might have won him the Rookie of the Year was his passing yards per game, in which he’s finished five games with at least 300 passing yards.

Ryan Finley will return to the starting role for the first time since his brief stint in 2019 on Andy Dalton’s birthday. It’s clear he’s viewed as a backup since the franchise couldn’t rush faster to the podium to select Burrow. However, could he be the guy to start in 2021?

Depending on the severity of the injury, Burrow could miss ample time in rehabilitation. Hopefully he’s back by the start of training camp, but who knows? So much is unknown.

Cincinnati has multiple pressing needs, but offensive line has to be at the top. The franchise that’s known for being penny-pinchers will need to cough up cash in free agency while also drafting multiple linemen come next April.

For now, the damage is done, and it could affect the team well past the remainder of 2020.

For the first time in almost five years, there was potential in Cincinnati. Burrow looked the part of a future star and was finding his rhythm at the right moment.

Instead of building off a promising rookie season, the Bengals will now be hoping this setback doesn’t burden the franchise for years to come.