Bengals QB Joe Burrow to miss remainder of 2023 season with torn ligament

The Cincinnati Bengals have delivered the news many feared, announcing Joe Burrow is out for the remainder of the season.

During Thursday’s AFC North showdown with the Baltimore Ravens, Burrow was forced to miss a majority of the game, as it was shown he was in immense pain while gripping the football. Burrow couldn’t throw, and backup Jake Browning finished off Cincinnati’s divisional loss.

According to Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, Burrow’s MRI on Friday revealed a torn ligament, and he’ll be shelved for the remainder of 2023.

Joe Burrow is out for the remainder of the season.

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 17, 2023

“Joe Burrow is out for the remainder of the season,” the Bengals posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Moreover, the Thursday Night Football game was supposed to be all about elite, highly-paid quarterbacks, with Burrow starting for the Bengals and Lamar Jackson for the Ravens. But both quarterbacks were injured during the game, which Baltimore won, 34-20.

Jackson tweaked his ankle and didn’t miss any action. However, he did lose tight end Mark Andrews, possibly his favorite receiver. Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Andrews likely will miss the remainder of the season because of an ankle injury.

Meanwhile, Burrow winced after he threw a touchdown pass to running back Joe Mixon. He ducked inside the injury tent set up on the sideline. Then he came back out and tried to throw the ball. It didn’t go well.

TNF sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung said that Burrow couldn’t grip the ball with his right hand. He also had issues raising his arm. Burrow went back to the locker room for more checks, then the team ruled him out.

Continuing, the aforementioned Browning, a one-time star with the Washington Huskies, will now lead the Bengals it seems. Regardless, it appears the Bengals already are out of the race for the AFC North. Cincy is 5-5 and in last place in the division. The Ravens are leading with an 8-3 record. 

“I felt calm all the time, felt like I threw the ball where I wanted to, but obviously there were too many three-and-outs,” Browning told reporters, following the loss. “Put our defense in a tough situation and I think when Joe goes down I go in the game fully expecting to win.”

The Bengals will have an extended period off, as Cincinnati won’t return to action until a Nov. 26 home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The NFL world will miss seeing Joe Burrow sling it until 2024.

On3’s Suzanne Halliburton contributed to this article.