PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s hard to find any preseason prediction that doesn’t have the Bengals winning the AFC North in 2023 or if at least not winning it, finishing a close second. A two-time Super Bowl champion believes Cincinnati won’t make the playoffs.
There is one reason, or one injury as to why he holds that belief. Quarterback Joe Burrow going down and being carted off with what they described as a calf injury (potentially a strain) a few days into training camp.
“I think that injury might be a little more significant than what they are telling us or what they are exposing to us,” said seven-year NFL corner Bryant McFadden on the Cook and Joe Show on 93.7 The Fan.
McFadden said he suffered a calf injury during his playing days and was out less than two weeks, if not sooner. He wonders if we will see the same Joe Burrow we’ve seen and even if he returns relatively quickly, will he be the same level of player? Will he be able to hold up through an entire season?
He points out in the video of Burrow going down that he already had a wrap around his calf on that leg. McFadden said clearly that calf already bothered him to have a sleeve on that same spot of where he was injured.
The comments were out of respect to Burrow. McFadden praised him for what he has done despite issues with the Bengals offensive line. He clearly doesn’t believe it would be the same with another quarterback.
“If Trevor Siemian is the starting quarterback for more than half of their ballgames this year,” McFadden told Joe Starkey and Ron Cook on 93.7 The Fan. “They are not getting to the playoffs.”