This article includes an update from Zac Taylor at the end of it. Please don’t miss it.
During the Cincinnati Bengals win in Cleveland for the first time in the Joe Burrow/Zac Taylor era, one of their big guns and pricey acquistions suffered what COULD be labeled a rather significant injury, dependent on severity. This injury could take several weeks to heal in full, which puts his status going forward in jeopardy.
Labeled “Tennis leg” – Niche NFL injury
NFL Reporter Ian Rapoport posted about Orlando Brown Jr’s injury he suffered this morning detailing it as “tennis leg” – which is a form of calf muscle strain. It’s often caused by a sudden, forceful contraction of the calf muscles, such as during a sprint or jump, per Google AI search. But let’s look further into what an expert describes it as, instead of just a compiled Google AI.
Per US Sports Medicine, the pain associated with this injury is ‘like somebody shot you in the calf.’ Per this same article, they detail it as ‘better than an achilles tear, but still painful enough to keep an athlete sidelined’ – This injury, also, does NOT require surgery, which as a Bengals fan, you can breathe a sigh of relief. However, the article does state that it can take up to 4-6 weeks to properly heal. The keyword there for me is “properly” – you can’t let this linger. Sigh.
Left Tackle options going forward
Currently, the only option the Bengals have at left tackle to backup Orlando Brown Jr is Cody Ford. Though limited reps, Pro Football Focus aka PFF has him graded as one of the worst tackles in the game. If Sunday was another eye test, Cody Ford was absolutely abysmal in pass protection. The Bengals GM-equivalent Duke Tobin is going to have to go obtain a player whether it via trade or practice squad because Cody Ford is not a viable option. The Bengals have a serious issue when it comes to protecting Joe Burrow’s blindside.
Could the Bengals end up pulling someone out of retirement worthwhile like David Bakhtiari? David made it pretty clear that he had no interest continuing to play, but there’s some other options that are currently unsigned and a UFA like DJ Humphries. DJ is nursing back from his ACL injury suffered last season, but as of September, he was only a few weeks away. Would the Bengals be interested in signing him? Pound for pound, DJ is a starter when healthy, so that could be no, but look – Joe Burrow is his own brand and the Bengals come second, maybe he’d be willing to nurse back into a gig and play for the Bengals short term. Who is on your radar?
Zac Taylor Update, 3pm
GREAT NEWS. Zac Taylor told media that Orlando Brown Jr’s injury is thought to be day to day, NOT week to week. That’s a very welcoming development. It sounds like it isn’t as bad as instigated. Let’s hope he can suit up ASAP. He did, however, unfortunately confirm that Cody Ford will be the backup LT and it was unlikely the team pursued anything different.
