The Cincinnati Bengals don’t appear to have many silver linings in the wake of Joe Burrow’s season-ending injury.
But modern franchise great Andrew Whitworth has found one.
Speaking with Fox News Digital before the Thanksgiving slate of games, Whitworth said that one of the good aspects to emerge from the injury is that new players need to step up.
“I think in some ways it can be really good for your football team because new guys are going to have to step up,” Whitworth said, according to Fox News’ Scott Thompson. “You’re going to have to have this resolve that Joe’s not there, but we’re going to go play in a certain way that represents the style that he would be leading us through. You’re going to have to have somebody on that offensive side of the football that takes the reins for that.”
This was one of our big best-case scenarios when outlining the best and worst possible outcomes from Burrow’s injury over the long-term. Rookies, especially those on the defensive side of the ball (and perhaps a wideout like Andrei Iosivas) will need to step up big.
Case in point, the promotion of rookie safety Jordan Battle to start from here on out after he impressed last week. He and names like rookie corner DJ Turner will get key reps for the remainder of the season for a defense that has never looked right because of so much turnover in the secondary.
The Bengals might be open to even more of that as the season continues if they keep falling in the standings, possibly spurring more development from long-term key contributors in future seasons.
It’s not much — and the playoffs aren’t out of reach — but it’s better than nothing, as Whitworth illustrates.
