Joe Burrow (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Joe Burrow finished last season on injured reserve after wrist surgery.

Burrow is back throwing to his teammates, but what’s next for QB1 in Cincinnati? The immediate road ahead will involve Burrow learning to take it slow when his right wrist isn’t feeling well.

Unfortunately for the Cincinnati Bengals and their fan base, they are getting a very concerning update regarding their star quarterback and the wrist surgery he went through.

On “The Pat McAfee Show,” former NFL cornerback Darius Butler recently offered some unsettling observations regarding Burrow’s prospects for recovery. Butler, who also had wrist surgery, was curious if Burrow would be able to regain his former level of performance.

Butler said, “It’s gonna be interesting to see how Joe Burrow takes these falls after that wrist surgery. I had the same surgery, and I’ve lost at least 50% of the movement on that wrist.”

Butler’s admission begs the questions regarding Joe Burrow’s durability and potential to return to his previous level of play. If he loses a lot of wrist movement, it can affect his throwing accuracy and his overall on-field effectiveness.

Burrow only played in 10 games the previous season due to a ruptured wrist ligament that ultimately required surgery to recover. The injury is more concerning because it is on his throwing hand, which is his right hand.

The Bengals managed to survive without him in 2023, coming in last in the AFC North despite having a 9-8 winning record. With Joe Burrow’s comeback, the Bengals became a Super Bowl contender again.

The Cincinnati Bengals Go As Far As Joe Burrow Can Take Them

Joe Burrow (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Joe Burrow has been cleared for everything but contact, via ESPN, albeit he is still in the rehab phase of his recovery. His readiness for the start of training camp in July doesn’t seem to be a concern.

If he’s healthy, the Bengals are contenders.

Burrow is one of three active quarterbacks who has started multiple regular-season games without losing to the Chiefs during the Mahomes era.

In the 2021 AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead, the Bengals surprised Kansas City by winning 27-24 in overtime after trailing by 18 points.

If Burrow stays healthy, the Bengals, along with the Chiefs and Ravens, should be considered among the AFC’s top Super Bowl contenders this season.