With QB Joe Burrow sidelined by injury, the Cincinnati Bengals are in deep trouble. An analyst has now claimed that Zac Taylor has no choice but to keep gambling on the 28-year-old.

Speaking with The Herd with Colin Cowherd, former NFL player and analyst Julian Edelman summed up the concern, saying, “Everyone knows they’ve got to throw the ball vertically to win. They don’t have a defense that’s going to get them turnovers. They have zero run game. So there’s a built-up pressure for Joe Burrow to have to make plays.” 

Reflecting on Burrow’s damage, Edelman pointed out how much the Bengals rely on him, and how quickly things fall apart when he is not on the field. “You know when Burrow got hurt, that’s you kind of double back and you’re going in, there’s people on the ground.”

The analyst pointed out that the Bengals’ system puts Joe Burrow in risky, high-volume situations. That was clear in Week 2 vs. Jacksonville, when Burrow was sacked by Arik Armstead and left the game. What looked minor turned serious, Monday’s reports confirmed turf toe surgery, sidelining him for at least three months.

Following Burrow’s injury, head coach Zac Taylor addressed the media. He acknowledged the risks of their aggressive style and took accountability for not better protecting his players.

“It’s going to be very attacking of us and our style of play that’s got us to a Super Bowl and an AFC Championship and two division titles and won a lot of games for us. We are always evaluating how we can protect our players and put them in the best position possible. I take accountability for that,” Taylor said.

The head coach’s system relies on Burrow’s quick decision-making, using a pass-heavy offense with multiple receivers. It can lead to big plays, but also leaves Burrow exposed to frequent hits. However, the Bengals don’t have many options.

Their running game is weak, the offensive line struggles to protect, and the defense rarely creates turnovers. With Burrow as their only real hope to win, they’ve spent big on players like Tee Higgins, leaving little money to fix the offense.

Burrow thrives in a shotgun, pass-heavy offense built around reading defenses. But it takes a toll on his body. Despite the “injury-prone” label since his rookie ACL tear, most of his injuries have come from routine plays, not big hits.

The QB has faced intense pass rushes since 2020. Better protection and a stronger run game might help, but injuries remain unpredictable. As Begals’ offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said after the latest setback, “It’s a really unfortunate outcome to a standard football play. I wish it didn’t happen. I feel terrible for Joe.”

With the 28-year-old now sidelined, the spotlight now shifts to his backup.

Joe Burrow’s backup

For now, the Bengals are forced to rely on Jake Browning, the same quarterback who filled in admirably during Burrow’s season-ending wrist injury in 2023, going 4-3 in relief. He stepped in again against the Jaguars after Burrow’s latest injury, completing 21 of 32 passes for 241 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions.

Browning’s promotion from backup to QB1 was immediate. ”We’ll continue to put the best plan forward to put Jake in a great position to go help us beat Minnesota,’‘ Taylor said. The depth chart behind Browning has also changed quickly. Veteran Brett Rypien, who started on the practice squad, was elevated to the active roster as QB2.

Cincinnati, in turn, signed Mike White to the practice squad to solidify the quarterback room and offer contingency plans. The series of moves reflects just how desperate the Bengals are to maintain continuity as their star rehabs.

This reshuffling shows the Bengals are stuck in uncertainty. The front office is quick to adapt, but without Burrow, there is very little room for mistakes.