Joe Burrow Injury: How Other Star Rookies Have Returned From Serious Setbacks

The spectacular rookie season of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was cut short when he left Sunday’s game against the Washington Football Team with a serious knee injury. The No.1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft was on pace to set multiple records for a first-year signal caller.

Burrow was initially diagnosed with a torn ACL, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported, though he could potentially have more damage to his knee pending further test results. Although his prognosis is uncertain, Burrow vowed to return next year shortly after being carted off the field, .

The history of star rookies who have suffered serious injuries is mixed. Some come back better than ever; others never looking the same.

Deshaun Watson provides hope that Burrow can bounce back in 2021, considering he also tore his ACL as a rookie in November three years ago. Watson had a stellar second year in 2018, earning a spot in the Pro Bowl and leading the Houston Texans to a division title.

Watson is considered to be among the NFL’s best quarterbacks. One day after Burrow’s season ended, Watson has the sixth-highest passer rating in the league.

Like Burrow, Watson was college football’s top quarterback when he entered the NFL. Watson set a rookie record with 19 passing touchdowns through his first seven games before getting hurt.

Burrow finishes his rookie campaign with 2,688 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and five interceptions. The 23-year-old had been on track to finish with 657 pass attempts for 4,417 yards -- also potential rookie records.

Robert Griffin set multiple rookie quarterback records in the 2012 season, posting a 102.4 passer rating and rushing for 815 yards. The No.2 overall pick led Washington to an NFC East championship, but his career was never the same after he tore his ACL in the playoffs.

Griffin posted a 3-10 record as a starter in his second season with a meager 82.2 passer rating. The former Heisman Trophy winner has only started 13 games over the last seven seasons, relegated to being an NFL backup.

Plenty of No.1 NBA draft picks in recent memory have seen their rookie season derailed by injuries. Blake Griffin (2009) and Ben Simmons (2016) both failed to play a single game in the season after they were drafted first overall. They each went on to become All-Stars.

Greg Oden, who was selected atop the 2007 NBA Draft ahead of Kevin Durant, barely had a career at all because of injuries. He played just 105 games over seven seasons before retiring.

Zion Williamson’s fate has yet to be determined. The No.1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft only played 24 games as a rookie because of a knee injury. Williamson was also one of the most productive rookies of all time when he did manage to get on the court.

If Burrow can make a full recovery, Cincinnati’s quarterback has shown that he has the potential to be among the NFL’s most productive players. More details about his injury and road to recovery are expected this week.