Over the years, the Cincinnati Bengals have been called many things: cheap, parsimonious, stingy, poorly run, and losers.
However, after quarterback Joe Burrow walked through the door in 2020, the team’s fortunes changed almost overnight. By 2021, the Bengals went 10-7. They went into the playoffs and knocked off the Raiders at home before taking out Tennessee on the road.
Then Burrow slayed the dragon in his lair when he led the Bengals past Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium. Yes, they narrowly lost Super Bowl LVI to the Los Angeles Rams, but suddenly, Bengals fans could hope.
Or could they?
Will Joe Burrow End Up Like Andrew Luck?
Things have not gone as smoothly for Burrow as Bengals fans would like. They went 12-4 in 2022, but since then, they have lost Burrow to a torn ligament in his wrist for a good portion of the 2023 season.
The team then underperformed in 2024 and finished 9-8, but hopes were high in the Queen City going into 2025 thanks to the Bengals loading up and signing wide receivers Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase to hefty contracts.
Unfortunately, the Bengals’ carriage has turned into a pumpkin just two weeks into the regular season. In the first half of a Week 2 win over the Jaguars, Burrow suffered a toe injury that will require surgery and force him to miss three months.
While this plays out, Warren Sharp posted a graphic from ESPN that compared Burrow’s first six seasons to Andrew Luck’s and summed it up as such: “This is depressing.”
this is depressing pic.twitter.com/icZjheffNs
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) September 15, 2025
Fans immediately agreed, with one just saying, “malpractice,” in reference to how the Bengals have handled Burrow.
Malpractice
— Patrick (@bankboy24) September 15, 2025
Another fan, presumably an Eagles backer, posted, “two poverty franchises doing poverty franchise things. thank god for Howie Roseman.”
two poverty franchises doing poverty franchise things. thank god for Howie Roseman
— Tres Comas (@3res_Comas) September 15, 2025
Another fan expressed pessimism for Burrow’s future, posting, “Joe Burrow in a perfect world would request a trade, but, he’s more likely heading for early retirement at this pace.”
Joe Burrow in a perfect world would request a trade, but, he’s more likely heading for early retirement at this pace
— 𝕋𝕠𝕟𝕪𝕃𝕖𝕒𝕗𝕤🍁𝟟 (@TonyLeafs7) September 15, 2025
Another poster echoed an earlier one: “Ownership malpractice.”
Ownership malpractice.
— Gyda Ragnarsdottir (@GydaRagnarsdot1) September 15, 2025
Another fan suggests a change of uniform will prolong Burrow’s career, stating “JB needs to get out of Cincinnati while he can still walk.”
JB needs to get out of Cincinnati while he can still walk
— GoatsHeadSoup (@BryanGo68296993) September 15, 2025
Whether or not Burrow’s toe injury is really the result of his being mismanaged by the team is debatable.
However, the perception of the franchise as one that mismanages its players, facilities, field, situations, contract negotiations, and almost everything else persists in the eyes of fans.
