Joe Burrow has established himself as one of the NFL's best quarterbacks since being selected No. 1 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft.
However, the Bengals star hasn't quite reached the heights that many expected him to in the early stages of his fourth season.
Burrow and the Bengals once again got off to a lackluster start, beginning the season with an 0-2 record. Surprisingly, the offense has been the root of the team's problems, as they averaged a league-low 13.5 points over their first two contests despite boasting a plethora of offensive weapons.
Among the biggest problems for the Bengals to date has been Burrow's performance. The 26-year-old posted a passer rating of just 70.6 in his first two games, which was one of the lowest marks in the NFL, and he threw for a measly 82 yards in his season debut against the Browns.
Burrow was better against the Ravens, but he still wasn't consistent in that contest. That proved that his issues were more than a blip on the radar and are something for the Bengals to worry about as they look to climb back into contention.
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So, what exactly is wrong with Burrow? Here's what to know about the calf injury that has pestered him during the early stages of the 2023 NFL season.
What's wrong with Joe Burrow?
Burrow has been dealing with a calf injury that has impacted him in the early stages of the 2023 NFL season. He first suffered the injury during a practice at Bengals training camp, and the malady caused him to miss the entire preseason.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor was mum about Burrow's status ahead of the regular season, but the quarterback was able to return in time to play in Week 1. However, it was clear that he wasn't 100 percent comfortable on his banged-up leg; viewers could see that, as he completed 45.2 percent of his passes for 82 yards in Week 1 against the Browns.
That said, many assumed Burrow would be able to shake things off. Some also wondered whether Burrow would fare better in better weather, as Cincinnati's loss to Cleveland was a rain-soaked affair.
But Burrow's struggles continued into Week 2 against the Ravens. He posted stronger numbers but showed some ill effects from the injury.
And even worse, Burrow appeared to aggravate the malady late in the contest, as he limped off the field after throwing his second touchdown pass. That put his availability for a Week 3 "Monday Night Football" tilt with the Rams into question, as Burrow indicated after Cincinnati's Week 2 loss to Baltimore.
"I'm not sure how it's going to feel the next couple days," Burrow said, per ESPN. "It's pretty sore right now. No telling how it's going to feel. So, I think we're going to take it day by day."
After a week of uncertainty, Burrow is going to suit up against Los Angeles as Cincinnati looks to avenge its Super Bowl 56 loss at the Rams' hands. That said, it has been reported that he won't be at 100 percent as he continues his recovery from the injury.
So, if you see Burrow struggle a bit more than usual in Week 3, a lot of those issues can be blamed on his balky calf.
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What is Joe Burrow's injury?
Officially, Joe Burrow is dealing with calf strain that he suffered during Bengals training camp on Thursday, July 27. The fourth-year quarterback was scrambling out of the pocket as part of a drill and pulled up lame on the play.
Joe Burrow pulls up with a lower right leg injury. pic.twitter.com/XTDHwG7klD
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) July 27, 2023
Burrow hopped a few times on his left leg before going to the ground, reluctant to put weight on his right leg. He was eventually carted off the field because of the injury.
At the time, Burrow was not believed to have suffered a major injury. Zac Taylor indicated, however, that the quarterback would miss "several weeks" as a result of it.
Ultimately, Burrow was held out of the preseason, but he made strides as he tried to return to the field. He was spotted working out before games and after a while, it became evident that he would be starting in Week 1.
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Joe Burrow stats 2023
Even so, while Burrow was able to return to face the Browns in Week 1, things didn't go well. He produced just 82 passing yards — the fewest in a single game during his career — and generally looked uncomfortable.
His issues continued into Week 2 against the Ravens before he aggravated the calf injury once again.
Just how bad have Burrow's first two games of the season been? Well, Burrow got off to a slow start in the 2022 NFL season, as he threw four interceptions and was sacked 13 times in two games.
Even despite those issues, Burrow's passer rating through two games in 2022 was better than his rating through two games in 2023. That is largely thanks to the massive gap in his completion percentage during the respective two-game stretches.
| Stat | Burrow in 2023 | Burrow in 2022 |
| Record | 0-2 | 0-2 |
| Comp. % | 56.9 | 64.0 |
| Yards | 304 | 537 |
| TDs | 2 | 3 |
| INTs | 1 | 4 |
| Rating | 70.6 | 73.1 |
Perhaps Burrow's slow start in 2022 offers a glimmer of hope for Bengals fans. After all, the team has tended to heat up as the season goes on during his tenure in Cincinnati, so it may not be time to smash the panic button just yet.
But if Burrow continues to operate under 100 percent and the Bengals offense struggles because of it, then Cincinnati will have trouble finding the same type of high-end success that it has enjoyed in recent seasons.
