In the three months without Joe Burrow for 'lawn finger', what can the Bengals ask for Jake Browning as a titular QB?
Cincinnati – while The field marshal of the Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Burrowhe was helped to enter the wardrobe due to an injury on a finger in the first half of Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the future of a team with aspirations to the Super Bowl plunged into uncertainty.
Burrow was discarded in the second half, but that did not prevent the Bengals from achieving a 31-27 victory in its first 2-0 start in seven years.
Jake Browning He entered the field and completed 21 of 32 attempts for 241 yards, with two touchdowns and three interceptions. It seems that it will be the headline in the near future After Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Burrow's big toe will require surgery and will be low at least three months.
Burrow has dealt with injuries throughout his career. More recently, he suffered a right wrist injury that ended his season in 2023, when Browning had a 4-3 record as a substitute. Burrow played the 17 games of 2024, a season that earned the Pro Bowl recognition and made it a finalist to the MVP.
What does the Burrow Season mean to? And how will it affect the Bengals, including fantasy stars like Ja'mar Chase and Tee Higgins? The reporter of the Bengals, Ben Baby; the senior writer of ESPN and injury analyst, Stephania Bell; And NFL Fantasy analyst Matt Bowen analyzes the most important questions.
How will the Bengals adapt to lose Burrow for months?
With Burrow out for a prolonged period, Browning will assume ownership. Browning has extensive experience in that role. In 2023, when Burrow suffered a right wrist injury that left him out of play for the rest of the season, Browning started in the last seven games and ended with a record of 4-3.
Browning kept Cincinnati in the contest for the playoffs until week 17, when the Bengals were eliminated after a defeat against Kansas City. Even so, Cincinnati finished that season with a 9-8 record and had such a good performance that Tennesee hired the offensive coordinator of the Bengals, Brian Callahan, as the main coach.
Browning spent his first four years in the NFL in practices squads before assuming the role of substitute in 2023. He also helps Cincinnati reinforce his air attack renewing Chase and Higgins is preseason. Chase finished Sunday against Jacksonville with 14 receptions for 165 yards and a touchdown.
“We have already gone through this with Jake,” said Chase. “We have to let it be at the end of the day. We all have to drive it to (be) better, drive us to be better and simply execute.” — Baby
What exactly is the 'lawn finger'?
The 'grass finger' is produced by an injury in the ball of the foot, specifically in the joint where the base of the big or phalange is joined with the long forefoot or metatarsal bone, also known as the first metatarsophalangeal joint. The ligaments are soft tissues that connect bone with bone, providing joint stability. Given the amount of force that the big toe absorb when driving and rotate, the ligaments of the area are especially strong. There are several that help stabilize the big toe, but the main structure that reinforces the base of the joint is a thick and fibrous band known as plantar plate.
The most common is an injury due to hyperextension of the big toe (which forces the finger to spread beyond its normal movement range) that damages the associated ligaments and causes an injury to the 'grass finger'. The name comes from the beginning of the artificial grass, when the tacos were hooked to the grass and stuck while the body weight fell on the top of the foot, thus forcing the hyperextension of the fingers. However, injuries can occur on any surface.
Since the big toe of the foot is the last part of the body to take off from the ground during the impulse, it is the one that suffers the greatest tension. Players often describe the pain of the injury as a feeling of nailing a nail on the finger when trying to drive.
The degree of injury to soft tissue structures that support the base of the big toe determines gravity. Excessive stretching that produces pain and inflammation, without structural damage, is considered a mild lesion. A partial tear of the ligaments in the area, with possible slight instability, is considered a moderate lesion. Mild and moderate lesions are often treated with rest and rehabilitation and, usually they heal themselves.
The complete tear of the plantar plaque is a serious injury that requires surgical repair. The athlete loses the ability to drive from the foot and experience a decrease in force throughout the foot. In case of a serious injury, the lack of repair of the plantar plate will leave the unstable joint and, over time, it can cause more degenerative changes in the joint (arthritis), which could potentially make it difficult to walk. — Bell
How long does it take to heal completely?
The recovery time may vary according to specific factors corresponding to the athlete, but generally, minor to moderate lesions can heal in several weeks, with a gravity that varies from two to three weeks up to six weeks or more. Surgical repair requires a longer recovery time, usually 12 to 14 weeks (or more) before approval to be able to play again. — Bell
Are there special concerns when a QB has the injury?
Whether to boost the leg to launch, go back to pass, rotate to deliver the ball or, perhaps even more important, to have enough mobility to protect itself, the big toe plays a crucial role for a field marshal. The ability to perform all the functions of the position without limitations is crucial for a successful return.
The adaptation of footwear, such as a more rigid shoe or a carbon fiber template to limit the movement of the affected joint, is also usually part of the plan. — Bell
What is it like to be injured?
I suffered an injury to the 'lawn finger' during the 2007 preseason, when I was with the Lions, and it was one of the most painful injuries I have had in my life. It happened just like Burrow's injury: they overwhelmed me. The two bones separated and the finger did not flex. And when he did, the pain was unbearable.
In the end they did not operate and I did not miss any game, although I used an orthopedic boot during the rest of the preseason. At that time, I struggled to keep my post on the Detroit template. To prevent my foot from bent, they put a metal plate on the loot and the shoe throughout the season. It is a terrible injury, and I still feel it today. The thunder footing suddenly, especially when I exercise. – Dan Orlovsky, ESPN analyst
What impact will Browning in Chase, Higgins and Chase Brown In the fantasy?
When Browning relieved Burrow in 2023, he averaged 19.1 points per game. Browning, an aggressive pitcher, will attack the narrow windows and take the ball to the third level of defense.
That works to Chase, who will continue to be a volume objective with potential to be in the top 3 in the weekly classification. Higgins still has a potential to emerge with a decisive party with Browning such as Quarterback thanks to its flexibility in formation and vertical presence; However, Higgins will slide towards the WR3 range.
In the land game, Brown will have the necessary touches to stay in the RB2 mixture, while it has the characteristics to produce as an exit below browning in the Checkdowns and the screens. — Bowen
Who will be Browning's reinforcement, and there are other options?
The Bengals only have two field marshal in their template: Browning and Burrow. If Burrow is forced to enter the reserve of injured, Brett Rypien It is the logical option to be the third field of the team. Rypien, 29, has participated in 10 NFL games since he reached the League in 2020 and is part of the practices squad.
In that scenario, Cincinnati would still have a field marshal less than what it usually has during the season. If Rypien joins the active template, a position will be opened in the practices squad. However, if Burrow stays out for a short time, the Bengals could also ascend to Rypien up to three times before being forced to keep it in the squad of 53 players.
Cincinnati has been thoroughly analyzing his field marshal in recent months. During the training camp, the Bengals got rid of Logan Woodside And they replaced him with Desmond Ridder. Ridder, selected in the third round of the 2022 draft by the Falcons, was cut at the end of the preseason and replaced by Rypien. — Baby
