Joe Burrow addressed a recent “controversy” that seems pointless even by today’s standards. The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback struggled in his first game back from a wrist fracture that ended his 2023 season last September.
Burrow completed 21 of 29 passes for 164 yards in a 16-10 loss to the New England Patriots. Those modest numbers may have set the foundation for Bottle Gate.
.@JoeyB responds to the water bottle scandal. pic.twitter.com/x8kKQqMxbF
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) September 11, 2024
A video surfaced of him picking up a Gatorade bottle, apparently not conventionally enough for some viewers. It seems apparent that he just grabbed the top of the bottle awkwardly before getting a firmer handle, but some Twitter doctors wondered if he couldn’t properly grip the bottle because he’s still hurt.
However, Burrow had no idea this was a story when asked about it Wednesday. “Oh, I picked it up weird? I don’t know. I drank water,” Burrow told reporters. “I can’t say I’ve seen that or know what anybody’s talking about.”
Fans also expressed concern over Burrow frequently flexing his wrist. The 27-year-old said it’s not because the surgically repaired wrist is bothering him.
“Yeah, I’m doing that all the time. When you come back from injury, you’re always trying to keep the joint loose,” Burrow explained, per the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway. “That’s part of ligament injuries. Move it or lose it.” Silly conspiracy theories aside, Burrow didn’t play like his usual self in a home loss.
The underwhelming season-opening performance comes a year after throwing just 82 yards in another Week 1 loss. “You are going to get scrutinized if you don’t play up to the standard that you have set for yourself,” Burrow said.
“I have set that standard for myself. I needed to go out there and hit that. I didn’t on Sunday.”
