Anouncement:Cincinnati Bengals star player is leaving..

However, here we are. We identified the Bills’ ailments earlier in the week. We talk about the Bengals today.

And we cover the Bengals because, similar to how injuries have decimated Buffalo this season (especially on defense), a huge one nipped Cincinnati on Thursday night. Joe Burrow has sustained an injury for the second time this year. Their season is threatened existentially for the second time because of the injury. Nevertheless, he is unable to play through this time.

The basics are, I’m sure, well known to you: prior to the Bengals game in Baltimore, cameras captured Burrow’s throwing hand wrapped. Later in the second quarter, he fell on the hand and proceeded to writhe in pain after a throw. Burrow then displayed frustration and left for the locker room before the half. Early in the second half, the team formally declared him out due to an apparent wrist injury in a hand that had swollen significantly.

Radiology on Friday revealed he would require season-ending wrist surgery. Burrow’s wearing the wrap Thursday before the game, according to Bengals coach Zac Taylor, had nothing to do with the injury he sustained after being helped to the ground by Jadeveon Clowney.

Thus, what is the Bengals’ current situation? It alters the AFC race and Cincinnati’s position in it first and foremost. That much is clear. However, it also puts the team in a bit of a bind because Burrow and Logan Wilson are currently on second contracts and Ja’Marr Chase needs to be addressed soon. Both D.J. Reader and Tee Higgins, who have been quite important to this Bengals team, are free agents. Jonah Williams, Tyler Boyd, and Chidobe Awuzie are also up. Numerous difficult choices need to be made.

Cincinnati will likely need to make a change similar to what the Chiefs did two offseasons ago, when they traded Tyreek Hill and acquired younger players overall in order to prepare for Patrick Mahomes’ fifth NFL season (2024 is Burrow’s fifth year). Cincinnati’s window to build with its quarterback on a rookie contract has now closed.

which implies that it is feasible. However, it is more challenging, and in order to be stocked with cost-controlled talent that permits the larger contracts at the top of your ledger, you must hit on draft picks like the Chiefs did with L’Jarius Sneed, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, George Karlaftis, Nick Bolton, Trent McDuffie, and a host of other players. Since hitting on picks is a major component of the current Bengals team’s structure, it goes without saying that they have already demonstrated their ability to do so. It won’t be simple to pull off the ruse again, though.

And for the time being? We’ll see what Jake Browning is capable of, though. However, the Bengals would undoubtedly be a good wager to work with some higher picks than anticipated in April.

The only quarterback to work out for the Browns on Friday was Joe Flacco. While it’s possible that he signs soon, the Cleveland brass’s initial thought was to consider the former Super Bowl champion Raven as a possible third quarterback to join Dorian Thompson-Robinson and PJ Walker on the field.

The coaches and front office are still debating whether or not that quarterback is a potential starter or merely practice squad depth.

Naturally, if you bring Flacco in, you’re expecting him to start for you after he settles into your system and gets his feet wet. Given that Flacco has nine starts in the last three years and started four games last year, he is a viable option to lead a team that, with its run game and defense, may not require a star quarterback to make the playoffs and even make a splash once they do. This is assuming that Flacco’s workout went well.

To return to the Bills, let’s take a look at what Stefon Diggs had to say earlier in the week regarding his brother Trevon’s letters regarding his future.

He declared on Thursday, “I’m not responsible for how other people feel.” “Anyone in this room, including my own brother, a reporter, and a player, for this kind of behavior. My brother is loved. My family is located in the area where my brother is coming from. So you’re curious about his feelings? You need to talk to him about it.

Diggs went on to say that while he respects his brother’s opinion, it should be seen as just that—an opinion. The older Diggs also mentioned that he hadn’t recently discussed his situation with his younger brother.

In my opinion, Diggs is deserving of a second chance based on the information I have about him. Those who have worked with him say he is generally well-liked and that the problems with him are usually related to winning and losing (and the belief, shared by many excellent receivers, that getting him the ball is the best way for the team to win).

Many people have inquired about the possibility of Ryan Tannehill or Jimmy Garoppolo being released and joining a team in need of a quarterback (Cleveland, perhaps?).

There are three issues with that.

One and those two are subject to waivers, just like any other vet after the trade deadline. Therefore, there would be no guarantee that any of them would reach their intended position in the waiver hierarchy. Two, letting go would mean the Titans or Raiders might have to pay out what was left on their contracts. That would potentially mean that Las Vegas would have to pay the $11.25 million roster bonus in March. That would mean Tennessee would have to pay the $10.5 million that Tannehill has left behind this year. Third, a team that made a claim on Garoppolo would have to forfeit that roster bonus.

Naturally, it’s entertaining to imagine something similar occurring after the trade deadline. However, it’s incredibly difficult to execute in real life.

Naturally, Texas A&M’s interest in Dan Campbell makes sense. As Campbell is a former student, he is familiar with the program and the state, and he could make a quick impression on recruiters. With the group he has, it also makes sense that Campbell would reject an offer fast and join the scorching Lions.

Is there another NFL team name that the Aggies could consider using? What about Aaron Glenn, Campbell’s defensive coordinator? Another native Texan and A&M alum, Glenn seems like he would fit in well as a recruiter.

It will be five weeks after Justin Fields suffered a thumb injury the first time out for the Bears against the Lions when he returns to the starting lineup on Sunday. And Fields has made good use of the time while undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent has filled in, as you would expect. To be fair, Fields had already played two of his best games of the year before getting hurt against the Vikings.

Given that Chicago now owns the first and fifth picks in the draft order, he should be in a strong position to argue for himself to remain the Bears’ quarterback through 2024. It remains to be seen if he is skilled enough to pull it off. We’ll see.

Giants running back Saquon Barkley made the statement this week that “loyalty don’t mean nothing,” and considering the realities of the NFL, any player should take note of this. Nevertheless, it conflicts with his intention to hold out until the trade deadline. It would have made sense, in my opinion, for Barkley to go to a playoff team at that point and for the Giants to receive a return in exchange for him.

I support player safety, but I believe there will be unintended consequences if the hip-drop tackle that knocked down Mark Andrews on Thursday night is prohibited. Well-placed efforts by coaches to teach rugby/Seahawk-style technique, in which a defender wraps and rolls to avoid head contact as he brings an offensive player down, are the reason we’re seeing more of that style of tackling.

What we witnessed on Thursday, I believe, is the issue with that approach. The attacking player won’t simply collapse. He will continue to propel himself forward with his legs, which are capable of lifting the defender off the ground. The offensive player’s legs are in danger if the defender drops his weight, which is the only appropriate move in that circumstance.

And that exemplifies the outcome of all of this. Coaches and players adapt to new regulations and emphasis, which can cause a whole new set of problems. With this stuff, you risk becoming a dog chasing its tail. It seems that banning the hip drop would be just that.

• It’s reasonable to say that rumors about Jim Harbaugh rejoining the NFL will be afoot, as Michigan tries everything in its power to make it to the College Football Playoffs unscathed before the NCAA wraps up its investigation and lifts the lid.