Burrow: Wrist 'completely not' affecting throws

CINCINNATI — Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow laughed, raised his eyebrows and cracked a smile about probably the most harrowing subject in Cincinnati.

On-line sleuths puzzled how his surgically repaired wrist felt after broadcast cameras captured him dealing with a water bottle in an unorthodox method within the workforce’s Week 1 loss to the New England Patriots. Burrow was oblivious to the discourse.

“I simply drank water,” Burrow mentioned with a chuckle.

However after he was noticed flexing his wrist all through the workforce’s upset defeat Sunday, Burrow maintained the wrist felt nice, and it was “completely not” affecting his throwing.

“It feels higher this week than it did final week, than it did the week earlier than, so it is frequently getting higher,” Burrow mentioned.

For the second straight week, Burrow was listed on the workforce’s harm report due to his wrist subject. He tore a ligament in Week 11 final season in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens and had surgical procedure in November. All through offseason exercises and coaching camp, Burrow has repeatedly flexed the wrist, which was seen on the tv broadcast Sunday.

Burrow downplayed the importance or that the wrist was stopping him from making downfield throws.

“That is a part of ligament accidents,” Burrow mentioned. “If you happen to do not transfer it, you are going to lose it, so I am at all times transferring it round, protecting it free, protecting my mobility the way in which it is imagined to be, so it should proceed to occur.”

Cincinnati, a 7.5-point favourite per ESPN BET, struggled to create huge performs in a 16-10 loss to the New England Patriots, which was the largest Week 1 upset within the NFL relationship to 2018. In line with ESPN Analysis, solely six of Burrow’s 29 move makes an attempt have been for 10 or extra air yards.

On Wednesday, the previous No. 1 general decide mentioned he did not do a great job of steadying his toes within the pocket and was rushed in how he processed the sphere.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor did not have a lot to supply on Burrow’s well being in his weekly Wednesday information convention. Taylor merely mentioned he “thinks he is good” when requested in regards to the star quarterback.

Cincinnati is trying to keep away from going 0-2 for the fifth time in Taylor’s six seasons. Throughout that span, the Bengals are a mixed 1-11 within the first two weeks of the season, the worst profitable share within the NFL, in response to ESPN Analysis.

This week, Cincinnati faces the Kansas City Chiefs in what could possibly be a continuation of one of many NFL’s high rivalries. The Bengals beat the AFC North workforce in January 2022 to succeed in the Tremendous Bowl for the primary time in 33 years. Kansas Metropolis returned the favor in a rematch within the AFC Championship Recreation the subsequent season.

Taylor minimized the magnitude of the matchup but in addition referred to as the sport an amazing alternative for the Bengals to show themselves on the street.

“We obtained the style out of our mouth and now we get an opportunity to maneuver ahead,” Taylor mentioned.

When Burrow has performed in opposition to Kansas Metropolis, the Bengals have received three of the 4 matchups. He was out for the season when Kansas Metropolis beat Cincinnati in Week 17 final season to get rid of the Bengals from playoff competition.

Burrow mentioned that he not solely missed enjoying in that rivalry sport in opposition to Kansas Metropolis and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes but in addition missed being on the sphere.

That is one of many the reason why he took suggestions on his efficiency and questions on his well being with amusing.

“It is a luxurious proper now to be criticized by all you guys about how we performed on Sunday, as a result of I used to be sitting within the wings for seven weeks final yr,” Burrow mentioned. “So I am simply excited to be on the market.”