Joe Burrow's vulnerable admission adds a layer of mystery to Bengals' must-win game vs Steelers

Cold weather football is here, and the Cincinnati Bengals need to power through it in order to get back into playoff contention.

Quarterback Joe Burrow has normally thrived around this time of year. He's 8-2 in the month of December for his career with MVP-caliber production. He didn't get a chance to add to those numbers in 2023 thanks to his season-ending wrist injury he suffered in November.

Burrow's injury has stayed with him throughout this year, but not to the point where it's been in the way. Will that be the case when the temperature drops to freezing? Not even he knows yet.

Cincinnati's game against Pittsburgh Sunday will feature temperatures in the low 30s. When asked about how the cold may impact his wrist, Burrow kept things as honest as he usually does. 

"I don't know. That's a question that remains to be answered," Burrow said. "I haven't experienced a cold weather game with that yet. You know, in the past, when I've had injuries, cold weather does affect it. So we'll find out if I maybe I'll have a heater on the on the sideline or something. I haven't really thought about that yet, but you know, we'll see."

It's been over a year now since Burrow's wrist injury. He admitted earlier this year that he still wasn't throwing with the spin rate he desired, but every week it gets stronger and more comfortable. Playing in the cold is simply an untested variable as he's only thrown in the spring, summer, and fall since recovering.  

Cold air also means dry air, which is the real reason why Burrow likes to put a glove on his right hand from time-to-time. 

"I wouldn't say it helps anything in terms of my wrist," Burrow said of wearing the glove. "That's just something I've always done when it's cold or dry outside. When your hand is dry, it's hard to hard to hold the ball. So that's something that I've always done to keep my hand moist and be able to get that tack on the ball that I need."

The glove adds warmth as well, which any QB could use in freezing weather.  

It can't be understated how important this game is for the Bengals. They've yet to defeat a winning team this season and are 1-2 in AFC North play thus far. Falling to the Steelers as home favorites would eliminate the possibility of a 10-win season and virtually any chance of sneaking into the postseason. Barring a defensive slugfest, they'll need Burrow to be his usual self.

Consider this week's frozen weather the final hurdle for Burrow to overcome in this year-long endeavor. It may very well save Cincinnati's season.