Joe Burrow injury highlights big Bengals issue 

Burrow has missed significant time due to injury at various points in his career, and it always completely changes the dynamic of the Bengals offense and team. His latest injury also highlights a big issue that they have not really been able to consistently fix.

The Cincinnati Bengals need to protect Joe Burrow better

For as good of a job as the Bengals have done surrounding Burrow with skilled pass-catchers and playmakers on offense, they have done an equally bad job in giving him a quality offensive line. He gets sacked a lot. He also gets hit a lot. He was sacked twice on Sunday on 15 dropbacks before exiting the game, while also taking several other hits including the one that resulted in his injury. 

During the 2024 season he was sacked 48 times, tied for the fourth most in the NFL, while Burrow and Jake Browning combined to be sacked 48 times during the 2023 season. 

In all of the past four seasons Bengals quarterbacks have been among the top-eight most sacked quarterbacks in football. 

It's a problem, and potentially a season-changing problem if he has to miss significant time.

The Bengals spent big money this offseason to keep wide receivers Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase, while also working out a new contract with star defensive player Trey Hendrickson. But for all of the money they spent, it didn't really do anything to fix their biggest issues. It is still largely the same team that has not been good enough the past two seasons.

The defense is still porous, and the offensive line is still letting Burrow take too many hits. As long as that happens injuries are going to be a concern.