NFL quarterbacks regularly take a beating in games, with hits already knocking out some of the league's top passers just a few weeks into the season. One star QB, though, apparently took a hit and came out healthier. Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals told Houston Texans pass rusher Will Anderson Jr. after their game on Sunday that the Texans defense "popped my rib back into place." Anderson took that comment as a joke, sharing a laugh with Burrow after he said it, but Burrow apparently wasn't joking.
The NFL shared footage on Tuesday of a mic'd up Burrow telling his teammates the same thing. "One of those hits popped my rib back in place," Burrow told star receiver Ja'Marr Chase. Chase and other teammates were taken aback, asking Burrow to repeat himself, but the QB doubled down.
Teammates think they even identified the specific hit, which appears to be when Danielle Hunter hit Burrow. "He stood up and he said 'Aaaarrgghhh,'" receiver Tee Higgins said. "Then afterward, it felt better," Burrow explained.
Burrow also agreed with a teammate who said Hunter "adjusted your whole back." Burrow's back had been the issue keeping him on the injury report ahead of Week 2, though he clearly felt well enough to play in the game. He was questionable ahead of that matchup, so it will be interesting to see what his game status is ahead of this Sunday's matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers. If his condition has improved, it might very well be that his rib was popped back into place.
That said, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said Monday that Burrow came out of that game in "good" condition, but he's still not ready for a full week of practice. At least Bengals fans can take solace in the fact that Burrow wasn't left in worse condition by those vicious hits.
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