The Cincinnati Bengals are off to an atrocious 0-2 start, and their star quarterback doesn’t look to be fully healthy. So is Joe Burrow playing next Monday? There is some early speculation that he won’t, and the early Rams-Bengals odds don’t look good for Cincinnati. Let’s look at the most recent Joe Burrow injury updates as we assess whether he will be available in Week 3.
UPDATE (9/25/23 at 1 p.m. ET): Joe Burrow plans to “try and go” for tonight’s Rams-Bengals game, per Bengals beat reporter Kelsey Conway.
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Joe Burrow Injury Update: Is Cincinnati’s Star Playing Monday?
Rams-Bengals Odds
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Rams: +130 | Bengals: -155
Rams +3: -110 | Bengals -3: -110
Over 45: -112 | Under 45: -108
Joe Burrow Injury Update
Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a calf injury late in the offseason, and it limited all throughout the preseason. But the Bengals were optimistic about his ability to return, and they let their star quarterback start in Weeks 1 and 2. Burrow struggled in a rainy Week 1 game before struggling again in a dry Week 2 contest, dropping the Bengals to 0-2 after a pair of AFC North losses.
On Monday, NFL insiders Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport speculated about his availability for Week 3. Rapoport said on Good Morning Football that Burrow “tweaked his calf again,” but that he “wants to give it ‘a couple more sleeps.'” Schefter said that it was “fair to wonder” if Burrow would be available next Monday night.
Is Joe Burrow Playing for Cincinnati in Week 3?
So is Joe Burrow playing for Cincinnati in Week 3’s edition of Monday Night Football? In addition to the speculation by Schefter and Rapoport, sports bettors have been similarly skeptical of Cincinnati’s star quarterback. The Bengals were trading as a 6.5-point home favorite over the Rams on the look-ahead lines, but they’re now down to a 2-point home favorite. Update: The Bengals are now up to a 3-point favorite as of Monday afternoon.
Some of the line movement against Cincinnati may be because of their less efficient offense, but not all of it can be blamed on that explanation. Burrow’s status is already in serious question for Monday’s game. If he can’t play, Cincinnati will have to turn to backup Jake Browning, a former member of the Washington Huskies. His only NFL action came in Week 1’s blowout loss to the Browns.
The Bengals will add help to their quarterback room sometime this week if Burrow has a chance to miss next Monday’s game. Browning beat out Trevor Siemian for the backup job this summer, and, fortunately for Cincinnati, Siemian remains unsigned for the time being. Other available players include Carson Wentz, Colt McCoy, Joe Flacco and Nick Foles.
