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It’s been two months since Joe Burrow injured his right pinkie finger in a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Yes, it’s still dislocated. No, it hasn’t stopped the Cincinnati Bengals from going to the Super Bowl.
Eight games has Burrow played with the discomfort. It’s not going to officially go away for a little while, but leading up to the biggest game of his life, Cincinnati’s quarterback says it’s not playing football when he feels it.
Burrow told media members this week that he doesn’t notice it throwing the football.
Joe Burrow on the pinky injury he's been playing with for over a month: "Pinky is still something I am dealing with. I’m going to be dealing with for rest of the season until I give it a break."
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) February 3, 2022
Says he' doesn't notice it throwing football, just doing every day things.
Not only has the injury disappeared from injury reports, it’s disappeared from the conversation of on-field play. No one could tell he was dealing with it when he led the NFL in yards, yards per attempt, and completion percentage from Weeks 14-17. He’s seamlessly adjusted to it in the most important games, and he’s got one more to go.
Why we’ve stopped talking about the pinkie has to do with the essence of Burrow. For some quarterbacks, that injury would be the main reason why certain things didn’t go their way. It’s simply become a minor obstacle in the grand scheme of things for Burrow.
The kind of quarterback and person Burrow is attracts fans from all backgrounds and allegiances, even those up near Cleveland. Burrow said after the Chiefs game that Cleveland-native rapper Kid Cudi reached out to him that day. Burrow grew up listening to Cudi and still does before games, so Burrow sent his idol his game-worn jersey from the AFC Championship, which promoted Cudi to respond.
.@JoeyB grew up idolizing @KidCudi.
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) February 4, 2022
He got to give him something special after the AFC Championship Game. ⤵ pic.twitter.com/jKznvsPU5N
— The Chosen One : I YOU FRESHIE 4EVER (@KidCudi) February 4, 2022
Ok. So after the Bengals win against the Chiefs, I hit Joe and congratulated him and asked if I could have his jersey. He said yes and sent it right away rockin this bitch to the game and then framing it. I am so geeked right now. #ohiolove @JoeyB @Bengals pic.twitter.com/mHWHfVRkR6
Should a Cleveland Browns fan be awarded a historic piece of Bengals memorabilia? That isn’t for us to decide. Cudi recognizes greatness, and that’s all that should matter.
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