Just as the Cincinnati Bengals' offense started to show signs of life Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers at Paul Brown Stadium, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow injured his right pinky finger - the little finger on his throwing hand - and grimaced in pain as he attempted to throw on the sideline - sometimes with black tape on the finger and sometimes without.
Burrow's injury first became apparent shortly after he was untouched on a 6-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter. The finger appeared to strike Chargers linebacker Uchenna Nwosu as Burrow followed through on a pass. He came back into the game without tape on the finger.
"My pinky played a big part in holding onto the football. We'll see how he handles that here in the second half," CBS analyst and former Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason said at halftime.
"You're right, Boomer. Most quarterbacks - their little finger is really important when it comes to controlling the football," analyst Phil Simms added.
Burrow threw the ball well for much of the second half. He threw a crucial interception to Chargers defensive back Chris Harris Jr. in the end zone with about eight minutes left in the game.
The Bengals battled the injury bug throughout the day on Sunday. Linebacker Logan Wilson was carted off the field with a shoulder injury earlier in the first half. LB Markus Bailey also left the game with a shoulder injury. Both were downgraded to out later in the game.
And defensive back Chidobe Awuzie left the game with a right foot injury. His return was questionable, later downgraded to doubtful.
Social media reactions to Burrow's injury:
In the first quarter, Burrow hit rookie receiver Ja'Marr Chase in stride, but Chase bobbled the ball into the waiting hands of Chargers defensive back Michael Davis.
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