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    Cincinnati Bengals

    BREAKING: Cincinnati Bengals Defensive End Out For The Season With Torn Achilles

    Sean LabarBy Updated:No Comments4 Mins Read
    Oct 8, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of a Cincinnati Bengals helmet at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
    Oct 8, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of a Cincinnati Bengals helmet at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

    The Cincinnati Bengals are entering 2024 with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations.

    In four seasons, Joe Burrow has proven that when healthy, he’s one of the most electric quarterbacks in the NFL.

    The biggest issue has been staying on the field. During his rookie campaign in 2020, Burrow tore his ACL in Week 11. He bounced back in the biggest way in 2021, finishing the regular season with 4,611 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, 14 interceptions and a completion percentage of 70.4 percent. He rode that momentum into the playoffs where he led the Cincinnati Bengals to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1988, where they barely fell to the Rams (23-20).

    Cincinnati Bengals, Cam Sample, Cam Sample injury, Cam Sample Bengals
    Injured Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) walks to the locker room after overtime of the NFL Week 15 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Minnesota Vikings at PayCor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. The Bengals won on an overtime field goal.

    Burrow and the Bengals explosive offense came back in 2022 and were once again one of the top teams in the AFC. They finished with a (12-5) record and were on the cusp of reaching a second-straight Super Bowl, but fell to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in AFC Championship game. Ironically, the score was the same as the Super Bowl loss, (23-20).

    Last year, the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback dealt with a calf injury during training camp and into the early part of the regular season. Just as he seemed to turn the corner with the calf issue, he suffered a wrist injury that required season-ending surgery.

    Heading toward the 2024 season, Burrow knows staying healthy is the key to the Bengals’ campaign.

    “Well, No. 1, I want to be on the field for all the games,” he recently told Complex Sports. “I know I’m going to play well when I’m out there. I’m at that point in my career where I’ve seen enough to know myself that I can go out there and play as well as anybody in the game. The biggest strides this year are going to be my body and learning how to get through the season, get through practices with my body, and feeling in tip-top shape. And so that’s the main focus for the offseason.”

    With Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins likely together for the last time and the best offensive line he’s had during his run with the Cincinnati Bengals, Burrow could reach new heights if he stays on the field.

    Cincinnati Bengals, Cam Sample, Cam Sample injury, Cam Sample Bengals
    Chase (1) celebrates after making a catch against the Minnesota Vikings in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)(Jeff Dean | AP)

    If the Bengals are going to compete with the Chiefs, Ravens, Bills and other top teams in the AFC, they have to remain healthy in 2024.

    Cincinnati can’t rely only on its offense this season if it is going to be a true contender. The Bengals finished 2023 with the No. 31 defense in the NFL and while they made offseason additions to bolster that side of the ball, they need all their key players healthy to remain competitive in the AFC.

    Cincinnati Bengals DE Cam Sample Out For Season With Torn Achilles

    Cincinnati Bengals, Cam Sample, Cam Sample injury, Cam Sample Bengals
    Bengals DE Cam Sample (USA Today)

    On Friday, defensive end Cam Sample was carted off the practice field on a day where two of the team’s new rookies also left with injuries.

    On Monday, Bengals head coach confirmed the worst news possible for the emerging DE.

    Sample is out for the season with a Torn Achilles, meaning the team will have to find depth to rush opposing passers elsewhere for 2024.

    Sample was a backup behind Sam Hubbard in 2023, but flashed when the Cincinnati Bengals gave him the opportunity. He finished the year with 29 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

    The former Tulane standout was drafted in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

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    Avatar of Sean Labar

    Sean Labar is a sports writer who has covered the NFL and college football for 12+ years. Since graduating from Towson University with a degree in journalism, he has worked & written for the Washington Nationals, Sports Illustrated, On3, Saturday Down South and OutKick amongst other national media outlets and websites. Sean joined Gridiron Heroics in 2023 to focus on NFL and college football coverage. He primarily focuses on the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders. On the college scene, he covers the Alabama Crimson Tide, Ole Miss Rebels, Colorado Buffaloes, Texas Longhorns and Michigan Wolverines. Sean currently resides in Virginia with his two rescue pups, Wally & Reagan.

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