Joe Burrow was already playing through back soreness in Week 2’s win against the Houston Texans, and while he was questionable, he still gutted out the game. What was tough to watch, though, was the talented Houston defensive front laying some serious hits on him. You saw those hits coming, too, often from the left side of the offensive line, and the frustration was real.
The Left Side Struggles That Got Everyone Talking
All eyes were on left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. after that Texans game. He was facing off one-on-one with guys like Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, and let’s be honest, those guys were getting into the backfield way too much. It wasn’t just the Texans game either. Even in Week 1, Brown allowed two QB hits on Burrow. Look at the numbers now: the 30-year-old Brown leads the team in allowed sacks with three, QB hits with three, and total pressures with six. That kind of stat line will always draw criticism from fans and media alike. It’s a brutal position, and when your franchise QB is getting slammed, everyone wants answers.
Joe Burrow Stepped Up To Defend His Guy
Despite all the heat, Joe Burrow isn’t letting his left tackle hang out to dry. Speaking to the media Wednesday, Burrow completely stood up for Brown, telling everyone that not all those hits were his fault. “I think Orlando was pretty good,” Burrow said, which probably shocked a lot of folks who just saw him struggling. He added, “There were a couple sacks that weren’t in his control at the end of the day. There’s a lot of different things that go into pass protection that’s not just on the offensive line, and that’s what you don’t see in the media.”
He’s got a point, right? From the stands or on TV, we just see a guy getting hit and immediately look at who was in front of him. But Burrow gave us the insider’s view, talking about the “very intricate details of pass protection” and “guys expecting help here. Guys expecting help from a different spot.” He stressed that there are “a lot of different things that go into it that we would never explain to you guys, and then it’s left up to interpretation, and that’s that’s how football works, and that’s the o-line position at the end of the day.” Burrow clearly sees the bigger picture, recognizing that it’s a “thankless job from the exterior.” He made it clear he tries to “pump those guys up as much as you can in the building.” Even after a tough Sunday, Burrow believes they “were pretty good.” That’s the kind of locker room leadership you love to see.
Burrow isn’t holding any ill will toward his left tackle, that’s for sure. He’s publicly backing Brown right before a road divisional matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team with another dangerous pass rush. This public vote of confidence from your quarterback could be huge for Brown’s morale going into a tough away game. They’ll need to sort out those pass-pro issues fast against a team that loves to get after the QB.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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