Former NFL running back and rushing champion LeSean McCoy came to the defense of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
The 27-year-old Joe Burrow had his Bengals in playoff contention last year before he unfortunately suffered a wrist injury in a Week 11 Thursday night game against the Baltimore Ravens that required season-ending surgery.
That was already the second season-ending injury in Burrow’s four-year career, as he suffered a torn ACL and MCL in his 2020 rookie year. Burrow has taken Cincinnati to two AFC Championships and one Super Bowl in his two healthy seasons.
On the latest episode of FS1’s “Speak” program, LeSean McCoy was asked if 2024 marks a “make or break year” for Joe Burrow. The two-time rushing champion pushed back against that narrative and defended Burrow:
“Not Joe Burrow, he’s that good. He’s that great, and he’s that young, he’s only 27 years old…when he’s at his best, when he’s healthy, we know his ceiling. What is his ceiling? You take the Bengals…all the way to the Super Bowl as a youngster?
With Joe Burrow, he’s so good, we don’t need to see it now. Because we know, eventually, it’s going to show up….he got some time.”
Here’s an example of how moving Ja’Marr Chase inside can open up the Bengals offense.
Last year against Houston, he lined up on the inside and occupied the safety just enough to open a window for Joe Burrow to find Trenton Irwin for a TD. pic.twitter.com/YhEG463gG6
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) July 17, 2024
The Bengals still finished 9-8 with second-stringer Jake Browning last season, an impressive feat considering that their three AFC North foes each won double-digit games and qualified for the postseason.
In the 10 games he played last season, Joe Burrow completed 66.8 percent of pass attempts for 2,309 yards and 15 touchdowns against six interceptions.
Bengals Are Contenders With A Healthy Joe Burrow
As long as Burrow is healthy, the Cincinnati Bengals will always have a shot at winning the Super Bowl. Remember, this team soundly defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-17 on the road with Burrow picking apart their defense.
Burrow also owns a 3-1 record against Patrick Mahomes, with the only loss being decided on a last-second field goal in the 2022 AFC Championship Game. Clearly, these Bengals are built for multiple Super Bowl runs as long as they have No. 9 running the show.
