Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals is currently sitting out training camp while he recovers from a calf strain, and it is unclear when he’ll be ready to return.
Bengals star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase recently said that he doesn’t want Burrow to return until he is 100 percent healthy.
Former NFL player Emmanuel Acho agreed with Chase’s comment and said playing with a calf injury can be extremely risky, via “Speak” on FS1.
.@EmmanuelAcho agrees with Ja’Marr Chase… Burrow should be patient.
“Now that you’ve tasted winning with Burrow, my fear is I don’t want to lose him for an extended period.” pic.twitter.com/7NVlvtkTui
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) August 7, 2023
He pointed out how calf injuries can lead to a torn Achilles if they aren’t allowed to fully heal.
For example, linebacker Jordan Hicks suffered a torn Achilles after straining his calf and not sitting out long enough to allow it to fully recover.
Perhaps the most high-profile example of how risky calf strains can be came in the NBA, when superstar Kevin Durant sustained one during the 2019 playoffs, then returned during the NBA Finals and almost instantly ruptured his Achilles, costing him all of the following season.
Burrow is the franchise for the Bengals, and at age 26, he also represents their future hopes.
They’re about to make a gigantic investment in him, and they’re reportedly negotiating a contract extension with him.
Assuming Burrow reaches and remains in full health sooner or later, the 2023 season should be an incredible opportunity for them to win the Super Bowl, something they have never done.
They got there in 2021 during Burrow’s second year, only to lose a nail-biter to the Los Angeles Rams after holding a lead for most of the second half.
