It’s common knowledge how building a real professional football roster is not the same as assembling your fantasy squad. Just loading up on flashy weapons won’t cut it if you hope for contention at the championship level. Successful teams must focus regarding bench strength, scheme fit, chemistry, plus addressing including less glamorous positions.
Yet the Cincinnati Bengals have repeatedly overlooked that approach, and yet again the team are paying a heavy price—now in the form of a serious setback suffered by franchise quarterback Joe Burrow. In Sunday’s close win against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the quarterback sustained a painful toe issue while taken down by defensive lineman Armstead. Reports indicate Burrow may miss for three months, making this yet another time in recent years that his subpar offensive line has contributed in a shortened campaign of the quarterback.
A History Regarding Inadequate Pass Blocking
Most NFL franchises prioritize quarterback protection over all else, especially if they have a talent like Joe Burrow. Teams that neglect this aspect frequently pay for it through ineffective quarterbacking and eventual injuries. In 2024, Cincinnati had one of the least effective offensive lines across the league, yet made very little during the offseason to address the issue.
While they signed interior linemen Patrick along with Risner in free agency, neither have provided a significant impact. The former has barely seen the field, and the latter in limited action yielded a sack and multiple total pressures in 75 pass-blocking snaps. Rookie guard Dylan Fairchild, drafted in the third round, has also had issues when blocking.
At both tackle positions, Brown and Mims are back in the starters. The left tackle, making top-five salaries, has historically proven more of a liability than a rock. The right tackle, a former first-round pick, remains adjusting and finding his footing. Center, Ted Karras rates as little more than a decent player.
How This Harms Joe Burrow In Particular
While he is one of the most elite pocket manipulators in the NFL today, he is not exceptionally mobile outside the pocket. Burrow relies significantly on structured protection to perform at a high level. That’s astonishing that Burrow has performed to produce even without inconsistent help by his offensive line.
Head coach Zac Taylor has attempted to compensate by calling an extremely large volume of short passes—exceeding any other team across the league. During last season, Burrow led the league in passes released within 2.5 seconds. That approach seeks to release the ball away before pressure arrives.
But, relying entirely on a quick-pass game restricts the playbook while producing an extremely slim room for mistake. If it doesn’t come out fast enough, the QB is often sacked. What’s more, with three among the squad’s biggest cap hits belonging to the QB and receivers Chase and Tee Higgins, it’s fair to wonder: what good is top-tier targets if they must run a reduced playbook?
Coach’s Response and Reality
After the incident, the coach stated how “it’s unfortunate this happened, but that’s part of the game.” He added that Burrow “could have been clean almost all of the game, and one play was when the injury occurred.”
That statement seems disingenuous at best. Burrow was rarely “clean” in that contest—or ever during his time with Cincinnati. Versus the Jaguars, Burrow was under pressure on multiple occasions leading up to the injury. In fact, over the last 4 throws, he got either taken down, contacted, or hurried each play.
Concerning Comparison
This situation bears reminiscent of what unfolded for former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. He was a generational prospect but whose time ended prematurely due to injuries mostly caused by poor offensive line performance. He unexpectedly walked away back in 2019 after years of punishing punishment.
As commentators have pointed out, the parallels between Luck with Burrow through 6 seasons are concerning. This shouldn’t suggest that Burrow is ready to retire anytime soon, but it should act as a stark reminder to the Bengals: absent sufficient blocking, even the most talented skill players cannot rescue your season.
What’s Next for the Bengals?
With Burrow out, reserve Browning takes over. While Browning played respectably during a stint in 2023, the backup threw 3 interceptions versus the Jaguars before finding down. And, he is unlikely to handle pressure than the starter.
Also worth noting that even when the QB1 is healthy and playing at his best, the team still lost contests due to a shaky defensive unit. In 2024, they put up 30-plus points during 8 outings and fell short four those games.
Another disappointing season ought to serve as the ultimate wake-up call to the Bengals. However, given their history, fans have minimal reason for hopeful that real change is coming.
