How Joe Burrow’s parents experienced their son’s ACL injury
By Zach Ragan
Former LSU football quarterback Joe Burrow missed the final six games of his rookie season, thanks to a torn ACL suffered in the Cincinnati Bengals’ week 11 loss to the Washington Football Team.
Burrow was sacked by two Washington defenders, destroying his knee in the process.
Hundreds of miles away, Burrow’s parents watched the gruesome injury on television, just like everyone else.
Burrow’s mother, Robin, had never missed one of her son’s games.
Washington, however, didn’t allow fans in the stands last season due to COVID-19 restrictions. As a result, Burrow’s parents had to watch the game from their living room in Ohio.
Joe Burrow’s parents had to watch the injury unfold like everyone else
Burrow’s parents spoke to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer recently about the injury and their experience watching the game from home.
“We were watching the regular TV broadcast, and they went to a commercial, and we knew he was down,” said Burrow’s mother to Breer. “And they came back from the commercial and said, We’re not going to show the hit, because it’s too gruesome. I was like, Oh my goodness, this is bad.”
Burrow’s father immediately knew it was bad when his son didn’t pop right up after the injury.
“He’s always bounced up really fast. Even in the Fiesta Bowl, when he took an enormous hit, he bounced right up,” said Burrow’s father. “When he didn’t get up, I knew then. I didn’t have to see any more.”
Burrow was able to communicate with his parents via text message right after the injury. They immediately drove to Cincinnati to see their son when the team plane landed.
It’s been a long road of recovery for Burrow over the last six months. But he appears to be on track to play in the Bengals’ season-opener in September.
Burrow participated in minicamps this week, surprising many folks around the league.
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He still has a ways to go before he’s fully healthy, but it’s certainly encouraging that Burrow is already on the field practicing with his teammates.