Joe Burrow's season is over.
The Cincinnati Bengals announced their superstar quarterback would miss the remainder of the 2023 season due to a torn ligament in his right throwing wrist.
Burrow sustained the injury in Cincinnati's Week 11 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football. He was in obvious discomfort after throwing a second-quarter touchdown pass and couldn't grip the ball when he tried testing out his wrist on the sideline.
The Bengals, coming off consecutive trips to the AFC title game, now have to fight for a playoff spot down their starting quarterback. Backup Jake Browning, who had attempted just one career pass prior to relieving Burrow against Baltimore, will now take over the reins.
But Cincinnati isn't the only NFL team having to navigate the 2023 season in the wake of a long-term starting quarterback injury.
How many NFL teams have lost their starting QB to injury in 2023?
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Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets
NFL
Aaron Rodgers' highly anticipated New York Jets debut lasted just a handful of snaps. On New York's season-opening drive, Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles while being sacked by Buffalo Bills defensive end Leonard Floyd.
At the time of the injury, it was anticipated that Rodgers was lost for the season. But the four-time MVP underwent an innovative surgical procedure in which a "speed bridge" was used with the hope of speeding up the recovery time to as quick as four months.
And the 39-year-old Rodgers has teased a much-sooner-than-expected return. In Week 10, he told NBC's Melissa Stark that his goal was to be back on the field by mid-December, which would be roughly three months after the injury.
Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
Anthony Richardson's promising rookie campaign came to an end in Week 5. The No. 4 overall pick of the Indianapolis Colts landed on his right throwing shoulder after being tackled by a pair of Tennessee Titans defenders.
Richardson exited the game and was diagnosed with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder, which he had season-ending surgery on.
Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings
Like Rodgers, Kirk Cousins also suffered a torn Achilles on a play where he was sacked. Cousins exited the Minnesota Vikings' Week 8 contest against the Green Bay Packers after being sacked by defensive end Kenny Clark.
After undergoing season-ending surgery, Cousins was sidelined due to injury for the first time in his NFL career.
Daniel Jones, New York Giants
The New York Giants lost Daniel Jones for the season in Week 9. Jones suffered a torn ACL while trying to avoid a pass rush from Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby.
Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson helped the Cleveland Browns secure a stunning comeback victory over the Ravens. Days later, his season was over.
Watson sustained a broken bone in his right throwing shoulder, along with a high-ankle sprain, in the first half of Cleveland's Week 10 victory in Baltimore. While Watson finished the game, the shoulder injury required surgery that will knock him out for the rest of the season.
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Burrow suffered a season-ending injury at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore just days after Watson was ruled out with his injury. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said Burrow fell on his wrist and then felt the injury on a second-quarter touchdown pass.
Burrow was seen struggling to grip the ball as he attempted to test out his wrist on the sideline.
