Fox TV host Nick Wright has launched into an impassioned defense of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow amid claims from fans that it could be “the end” for him.
Burrow has been the subject of intense speculation on social media over the past two days after a video surfaced in which he appeared to be struggling with a wrist injury.
Although Burrow has since taken steps to calm fears about his health, fans claim he may never be the same player he once was, something Wright strongly disagrees with.
In a furious response to ‘First Things First’ on Wednesday, Wright said: ‘I’ve found Joe Burrow’s comments over the last 72 hours to be borderline hysterical and downright ridiculous. Where is this energy for Joe that we have for Lamar (Jackson), that we have for Josh Allen?’
‘Joe Burrow is a spectacular quarterback, and his only weakness when he’s healthy is that he’s somewhat limited physically. He doesn’t have the strongest arm, he’s not the most agile, he’s not the strongest. He’s capable of reaching a very high level even though he’s probably close to league average in terms of measurable parameters.
Joe Burrow laughed off fears over a wrist injury, despite fans going wild on social media
On Fox, Nick Wright defended Burrow and criticized the “nonsense” and “lies” surrounding the QB.
‘That’s why he’s a guy who, if he’s not close to 100%, he looks terrible. His calf is a little sore and he can’t play well. If his wrist is still sore, it shows.
“But this idea that has been spread on the Internet and by other talk show hosts, that he has been in bad shape for two years, is a lie. It’s nonsense!”
Wright then reflected on his previous opinions on Burrow, who entered the league as the No. 1 overall pick out of LSU in 2020.
He has since played four seasons in the NFL and enters his fifth year with the Bengals with plenty of question marks hanging over him.
“We had a conversation on this show last year, coming into the game he hurt his wrist: ‘Could he win league MVP?'” Wright continued.
‘Between weeks five and nine, he looked like the best quarterback of the year. That came after a two-year stretch where he was the second-best quarterback of the year.
Wright called Burrow “clearly one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL” and criticized “idiots”
Burrow talks to a coach on the sidelines during Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season on Sunday
Fans speculated it could be ‘the end’ for Burrow after he ‘struggled’ to lift a bottle.
“We’ve seen Joe Burrow win in big moments and play really well in big moments, we’ve seen him go into Josh Allen’s house and outplay him. We’ve seen Joe Burrow have two playoff runs better than any playoff run Lamar’s ever had.
‘Listen, am I worried about him? If his wrist is still sore, he’s not going to be okay. Do I think we’ve overhyped Joe Burrow? Do I think, “Oh, it’s Joe Burrow receipts time”? I think people are idiots.
“I think he’s clearly one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and he clearly has been for the last four years.”
In September 2023, Burrow signed a five-year contract extension worth $275 million. He is the highest-paid player in NFL history on an annual basis, with a salary of $55 million per year.