The Cincinnati Bengals’ first six weeks of the 2023 season were unfortunately defined by one thing — the health of Joe Burrow’s calf. Frankly, with how ineffective a relatively immobile Burrow was, the Bengals were lucky to even sit at 3-3 before a well-timed bye.
Well, it seems that rest was just what the doctor ordered for Burrow and the Bengals. After two weeks without games, a clearly fully healthy Burrow was absolutely sparkling against the San Francisco 49ers’ vicious defense on Sunday. He resembled the special Burrow everyone remembered from the first three years of his NFL career, who helped lead Cincinnati to back-to-back AFC title game appearances.
If there were any remaining questions about Burrow’s formerly ailing calf, he answered them by breaking multiple 49ers tackles inside the pocket before launching a third-and-long dime to Tee Higgins.
How did @JoeyB pull this off? 😮
📺: #CINvsSF on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/Quwvdzpx7G pic.twitter.com/nEU2DTzMMm— NFL (@NFL) October 29, 2023
Oh my goodness. Yeah, I’d say that calf isn’t bothering him anymore.
Burrow was so dialed in against San Francisco that he completed his first 19 passes — a career-high thus far — and seemed generally unflappable against one of the NFL’s top teams. Burrow looking like an elite quarterback again is great news for the Bengals and awful news for everyone else in the AFC.
This was how Twitter reacted
Absoluetely bonkers stuff here from Joe Burrow.
This is where the *magic* part of his game comes into play that he couldn't do earlier this season with his calf https://t.co/AOBjrE1Pbi
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) October 29, 2023
IM TELLING YOU https://t.co/XRlnVPjtwQ
— Donielle White (@donielle_22) October 29, 2023
he's literally Joe Burrow, hope this helps https://t.co/JjdpRWy5Hv
— saturn (@vhwkd) October 29, 2023
The NFL is on notice: Burrow is back. #WhoDey https://t.co/No2SXzyiyz
— Sam (@samdemmler4) October 29, 2023
I think Burrow’s calf might be a little better https://t.co/N3zOKTVzZi
— Atticus Crow (@AtticusCCrow) October 29, 2023
This is ridiculous for any player, let alone a guy coming off a calf injury https://t.co/HvndfmvY9C
— Karthik (@blandphilosophy) October 29, 2023
Joey B emerging from that pile like https://t.co/sx2ivuYu75 pic.twitter.com/Je8Bf5sMpG
— paige 🎃 (@CincyPJolene) October 29, 2023
What a play by Burrow to escape the sack. Houdini act. https://t.co/u8GvzMIgJx
— James (@15Higgins) October 29, 2023
just silly https://t.co/i2CEPo0cl5
— Alexandra Francisco (@ByAlFrancisco) October 29, 2023
