Some of the best players in professional sports are former multi-sport athletes, and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is no exception. Yes, he chose football as his first and only profession, but he was also a star basketball player in high school, averaging 19.3 points per game during his senior season at Athens.
Now, he’s using basketball as part of his gameday routine to help keep his surgically repaired right wrist warm throughout the day, according to NBC’s Charlie Clifford.
“Burrow gets up shots on a hoop outside of Bengals locker room in an effort to help his surgically repaired right wrist,” Clifford posted on Twitter before the Bengals’ Monday Night Football game against the Washington Commanders. “Training staff even brought basketballs on the road Wk 2 to KC. A new routine.”
It makes sense to use a finesse sport like basketball to keep the throwing wrist loose, as so much of the sport involves flexing and controlling the wrist to shoot, dribble, or pass, all of which help maintain mobility and strength without any impact.
Hopefully, it’ll help Burrow connect with Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and others as the season wears. If Monday night was any indicator, Burrow is still capable of having some epic passing performances.
