Ex-LSU QBs Hit with Injuries

By Jim Gazzolo

Joe Burrow had a magical time at LSU, where he won a national championship and a Heisman Trophy.

Jayden Daniels matched only half of that, winning a Heisman as well. 

They both became rich and famous as they moved on to the NFL, where each had tremendous starts to their professional careers.

Burrows became one of the best in the NFL, leading the hapless Cincinnati Bengals to the Super Bowl in his second year. That was unthinkable before he hit town.

Daniels also started fast. He led the equally struggling Washington Commanders to the NFC Championship game in his first season last year. It was an amazing turnaround as well.

Tiger fans, as well as those from their new home cities, dreamed the two LSU signal callers would meet in the Super Bowl this winter. It would be a real boost to the Tiger football program.

Instead, the two have suffered seasons very similarly but in completely different directions. 

Both Burrow and Daniels have been injured most of the year, and while both of their teams were considered playoff contenders three months ago, that is no longer the case.

The Bengals and Commanders have both been eliminated from playoff contention before Christmas. It’s worse for Daniels; his season is over. Injuries will force him to miss the final three games of this season.

Daniels will be back next year in Washington and try to bring the Commanders back after this lost season. Burrow has been there and done that. 

He has rebounded from a couple of injury-plagued seasons and put up great numbers, but now, at 29, he seems ready to move on from the Bengals. Burrow said he is not having fun and is questioning how long he wants to keep playing. 

It could be that he is just looking for the escape hatch from Cincinnati. He won’t be the first star quarterback to do so. Carson Palmer led the way in that stat.

Both Burrow and Daniels are real stories of how quickly things can change in pro football, where every snap can be the last of your career. Players often get blamed for going after the money, but the truth is, the league is littered with tales of fast starts and injured endings.

There is hope that both Burrow and Daniels can bounce back and give LSU fans the Super Bowl they would love. It’s just hard to count on when one hit can do either of them in for a year.

Jim Gazzolo is a freelance writer who covers sports in Southwest Louisiana. He is also the host of Poke Nation, which airs weekly on CBS-Lake Charles.