Cincinnati Bengals ask fans to stop offering their calf muscles following Joe Burrow injury

Quarterback Joe Burrow gave Cinncinati Bengals fans an incredible fright on Thursday, going down on the practice field with an apparent leg injury. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told the media that the young quarterback had a suspected calf strain, but even still, fans saw their season flash before their eyes as they watched clips of Burrow hop and fall to the ground.

Laughter is the best medicine though and the Cincinnati social media account delivered.

“Everyone, please stop calling and offering us your calf muscles… it doesn’t work like that!” the Bengals Twitter account shared on Friday. “Joey will be back.”

Everyone, please stop calling and offering us your calf muscles… it doesn't work like that!

Joey will be back.

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) July 28, 2023

Whether fans were actually calling the Bengals with those generous offers or not, the fact that the team is in a joking mood is a good sign.

It’s unclear how long Burrow will have to stay on the sidelines but he’ll be back before the Bengals go to Cleveland on Sept. 10.

For the fourth consecutive year, Burrow won’t have full camp participation. He’s had COVID-19, ACL injury recovery, an appendectomy, and now a strained calf, yet he has 11,774 career passing yards. He’s also brought the Bengals to consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances.

Ja’Marr Chase: Burrow is ‘all right’ following the scary scene

Ja’Marr Chase has a positive outlook on Burrow’s injury. The wide receiver commented on the situation after the quarterback went down during training camp.

“We always give each other that nod,” Chase said. “He gave me a nod to say he’s all right. He’s a strong dude. I wasn’t really worried. I believe he’s all right.”

Burrow is going into year four of his rookie contract and is due for intense contract negotiations. Fellow 2020 first-rounder Justin Herbert became the highest-paid player in the league this week with his extension. He agreed to a 5-year extension worth $262.5 million — topping the five-year, 260 million deal Lamar Jackson signed with the Baltimore Ravens earlier this offseason.

When his deal comes, Burrow could once again set the market rate for the top young quarterback in the league.

“I’m focused on getting a deal done that’s good for us, good for me, good for the team and good for everybody,” Joe Burrow said Wednesday after the Bengals finished their first training camp practice.

According to the Cincinnati Star, nothing Herbert signed would speed up (or slow down) his deal to stay in Cincinnati.

“The whole goal when you get in league is to get a second contract,” Burrow said. “I’ve played well. I’ve done everything you can do, it gets done when it gets done.”

On3’s Suzanne Halliburton contributed to this report.