Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow throws in the course of the second half of an NFL soccer recreation in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Cincinnati. Credit score: AP/Darron Cummings
Los Angeles Rams extensive receiver Puka Nacua, left, tries to fend off San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir in the course of the second half of an NFL soccer recreation Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. Credit score: AP/Ashley Landis
Cincinnati Bengals extensive receiver Tee Higgins (5) catches a landing cross as Baltimore Ravens security Ar’Darius Washington (29) defends in the course of the second half of an NFL soccer recreation Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Cincinnati. Credit score: AP/Jeff Dean
CINCINNATI — As Joe Burrow goes, so go the Bengals. And neither is in place proper now.
The Professional Bowl quarterback is day after day with the lingering results of a proper calf pressure suffered early in coaching camp. He did not follow Thursday and would not know if he’ll be capable to go when the Bengals host the Los Angeles Rams on Monday evening.
If he cannot, backup Jake Browning — a former follow squad QB who had his first and solely NFL cross try in Week 1 — will get the nod. He received the job in coaching camp.
“You must be prepared, and Browning is a superb succesful backup, as effectively,” Rams coach Sean McVay stated. “However I believe you’d must be foolish to not put together for the most effective. We’ll discover out in all probability in a while within the week — or perhaps 90 minutes earlier than kickoff — whether or not he’s going or not.”
Whether or not it was Burrow’s damage or his lack of follow time, or slightly of each, the Cincinnati offense has been gradual to rev up and the defending AFC North champion misplaced its first two video games for the second consecutive season.
Late in final Sunday’s 27-24 loss to the Ravens, Burrow aggravated the calf damage and limped off the sector.
It is no time to panic, Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor stated.
Los Angeles Rams extensive receiver Puka Nacua, left, tries to fend off San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir in the course of the second half of an NFL soccer recreation Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. Credit score: AP/Ashley Landis
“I might argue that this isn’t adversity. That comes (with losses) later within the yr, usually,” Taylor stated. “We all know that this season’s a marathon. We stumbled out the field, however once more, we’ll choose up the tempo, and (I) really feel like we’ll be in good condition because the season goes.”
The Rams (1-1) received at Seattle in Week 1, then got here away with loads of positives in a 30-23 loss to powerhouse San Francisco final week.
Rookie receiver Puka Nacua, second-year operating again Kyren Williams and third-year wideout Tutu Atwell led the best way in a 386-yard effort by the Matthew Stafford-led offense.
Stafford threw for 307 yards and topped Peyton Manning’s NFL report for probably the most yards passing by a quarterback in his first 200 video games.
Cincinnati Bengals extensive receiver Tee Higgins (5) catches a landing cross as Baltimore Ravens security Ar’Darius Washington (29) defends in the course of the second half of an NFL soccer recreation Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Cincinnati. Credit score: AP/Jeff Dean
BUSY MAN
With Cooper Kupp sidelined with a hamstring damage, Nacua set a single-game rookie report with 15 catches for 147 yards final week, giving him an NFL-leading 25 receptions already this season.
However that workload has come at a price to the fifth-round draft choose from BYU, who sustained an indirect damage in his debut at Seattle. McVay stated he has been cautious with Nacua in follow and is in search of methods to attenuate the damage and tear.
MIXON IN THE MIX
His numbers have not been gaudy, however Bengals operating again Joe Mixon has been a gentle presence for an inconsistent offense. The seventh-year professional carried 13 occasions for 56 yards in Week 1, and 13 occasions for 59 yards final week.
THROW ME SOMETHING
Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase was vocal after final week’s recreation about not getting sufficient deep balls thrown his method. The 2021 Offensive Rookie of the 12 months had 5 catches for simply 31 yards in opposition to the Ravens. The longest was 13 yards. In Week 1 he had 5 receptions for 39 yards, with an extended of 12.
Offensive coordinator Brian Callahan stated opponents’ defensive schemes, to not point out the awful climate in Week 1, have stored the Bengals from throwing deep extra usually.
“I believe typically Ja’Marr talks, and it simply comes out his mouth,” Callahan joked. “He is pissed off as a result of his manufacturing isn’t what he’s accustomed to, and that is OK. I don’t have an issue with that. We’ll nonetheless maintain looking for methods to get him the ball, as some ways as we will.”
SUPER PIECES
Whereas the present Rams are largely unrecognizable from the workforce that defeated the Bengals within the Tremendous Bowl after the 2021 season, their protection nonetheless has two key items that tormented Burrow. Defensive deal with Aaron Donald had two sacks and two tackles for loss in that recreation, and center linebacker Ernest Jones had a sack and two tackles for loss.