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Cincinnati Bengals rookie quarterback Joe Burrow was carted off the field early in the third quarter after suffering an apparent left knee injury Sunday against the Washington Football Team.

The prospect of his return in the immediate future isn’t promising.

Joe Burrow’s initial diagnosis is torn ACL

The NFL Network reported later Sunday that Burrow had suffered a torn ACL “based on the initial diagnosis” and there may be additional damage found once an MRI is conducted.

Burrow himself, about an hour after the injury, indicated that his 2020 season was over.

“Thanks for all the love. Can’t get rid of me that easy. See ya next year,” Burrow posted on Twitter.

Thanks for all the love. Can’t get rid of me that easy. See ya next year?

— Joey Burrow (@JoeyB) November 22, 2020

Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor had no update on Burrow’s status after Sunday’s game, a 20-9 loss in Landover, Md.

“We’ll wait until we get a final update before we make any guess,” Taylor said. “It’s tough, but that’s the way it goes.”



On the Bengals’ second possession in the third quarter, Burrow had a defensive lineman hit him low from the left side while another defender closed in from the right as he threw the ball. He stayed down on the turf in obviously pain while clutching his left leg after the play.

Washington defensive tackle Jonathan Allen rolled into the outside part of Burrow’s left knee on the play.

CBS wouldn’t show replay of gruesome injury

CBS, which was broadcasting the game, elected to not air a replay of the play.



Every player on the Bengals sideline came out to check on the 2020 No. 1 overall draft pick as he was being attended to. As Burrow was loaded onto the cart, many Washington players also came over to pay their respects, including Burrow’s former Ohio State teammates Dwayne Haskins, Terry McLaurin and Chase Young.

Washington quarterback Alex Smith, just two years removed from a gruesome leg injury of his own, also came out to check on Burrow.

Burrow was 22 of 34 for 203 yards with a touchdown before the injury.

Cincinnati was leading Washington 9-7 at the time of the injury. Ryan Finley, a 2019 fourth-round draft pick out of N.C. State, replaced Burrow. The Bengals quickly faded from contention after the injury as Washington won the second half 13-0 en route to the win.

Burrow was 22 of 34 for 203 yards with a touchdown at Washington. He set a career-high with 21 first-half completions.

Burrow was the 2020 No. 1 overall pick after his Heisman Trophy winning season for LSU in 2019 that finished with the Tigers earning the College Football Playoff championship with a perfect 15-0 record.

Burrow had completed 65.4 percent of his passes this season for 2,485 yards with 12 touchdowns against five interceptions. He entered Sunday as the second-most sacked quarterback in the league (32), but was not sacked on Sunday. Burrow’s 41.1 pass attempts per game ranked second in the NFL.



Burrow has five 300-yard passing games this season, one away from tying Andrew Luck’s rookie record of six set in 2012. Burrow was also on pace to top Luck’s rookie yardage record of 4,374.

Sentiments of support flooded social media following the injury, with such NFL luminaries like quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Patrick Mahomes offering thoughts and prayers.

Prayers up!!! @JoeyB ????????

— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) November 22, 2020

Taylor said Burrow had changed the culture of the Bengals, and he’s looking forward to his return — whenever that may be.

“He’s given us a chance. We have a lot of belief in Joe,” Taylor said. “He’s handled everything like a professional from day one.

“He’s everything we hoped he’d be.”



–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)