The Cincinnati Bengals are starting their playoff push in a divisional matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, they are going to be doing it without star quarterback Joe Burrow in the lineup.

Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11 on Thursday Night Football. Photos of him entering the stadium earlier in the day showed what looked to be a wrap of some sort on his right hand and wrist and it turned out he was dealing with something severe.

He looked to be in significant pain when he went to the sideline. Burrow attempted to make some throws but it was too much to bear, as he couldn’t even have a catch there. He went to the locker room and it was announced later after the game that he suffered an injury severe enough it will keep him out for the remainder of the 2023 season.

That is brutal news for the Bengals, who will be turning to Jake Browning to be their starter. Browning had attempted only one pass prior to his relief appearance against the Ravens and will now be leading the offense the rest of the way.

Burrow will be on the sidelines this week with an earpiece, but we may not see him for a little while after that. According to former Bengals player and current radio announcer Dave Lapham, their starting quarterback is set to undergo surgery next week.

Usually, after an injury occurs there is some time before the procedure can be done as swelling needs to go down. Next week will be about two weeks from the injury occurring, so Burrow should be able to move forward with the process.

He isn’t expected to recover in time for a potential playoff appearance, which the Bengals are hoping to make for a third straight season. But, he should be 100 percent healthy to go for 2024 when his massive contract extension signed this offseason gets going.

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