Despite being questionable all week heading into the Bengals–Rams Monday night game, Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow suited up and played with a calf injury and led the team to its first win of the season.
Burrow’s performance and willingness to “play through the pain” really impressed Aaron Rodgers, who’s currently out for the season after tearing his Achilles during the Jets’ first game.
Rodgers went so far as to text Burrow after the Bengals’ 19–16 win on Monday night, the quarterback said on the The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday.
“Just for him to tough it out, I don’t think people realize how much pain and limited mobility he was in,” Rodgers said. “But for him to gut it out last night and to make enough plays to win, like I texted him, that’s what great competitors do is they show up and play through the pain and don't make it a big deal.”
"I give Joe Burrow a lot of credit because not many people realize how much pain he was in..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 26, 2023
I texted him that's what great competitors do..
They show up and play through the pain and don't make it a big deal" ~ @AaronRodgers12 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/2B3InsD2kH
Burrow told media after the win that he knew there was a risk to re-injure his calf playing on Monday night, but he didn’t want the Bengals going 0–3.
