Everything You Need to Know About Ryan Finley, Joe Burrow’s Replacement
The Cincinnati Bengals are out with Joe Burrow, and in with Ryan Finley.
Burrow, the No. 1 overall pick and all-world rookie quarterback, is expected to miss the rest of this season with a knee injury. When on the field, Burrow had begun putting together one of the greatest rookie quarterback seasons in NFL history.
With only six games left this season, the Cincinnati Bengals are putting their faith in Finley, the second-year quarterback from North Carolina State. Here is everything that you need to know about Finley.
Joe Burrow’s 2020 season is over
Joe Burrow had been everything the Cincinnati Bengals thought he’d become as a rookie.
Cincinnati used the No. 1 overall pick in April on Burrow, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. Burrow lit up the college football world at LSU last year, completing 76.3% of his passes for 5,671 yards, an FBS-record 60 touchdowns, and only six interceptions.
Burrow also ran for 368 yards and five touchdowns. LSU defeated Clemson in the national championship game.
Burrow started his career in stellar fashion for the Bengals, completing 65.3% of his passes for 2,688 yards, 13 touchdowns, and five interceptions. The rookie standout ran for 142 yards and three touchdowns on 3.8 yards per carry, although he fumbled nine times.
Burrow’s 264 completions and 404 passing attempts each led the league through Week 11.
Cincinnati only won two of Burrow’s first 10 starts, and they won’t be winning any more games with him under center for a long time. Burrow went down with a knee injury in Week 11 and is expected to miss the rest of this season with a torn ACL.
Ryan Finley is the Bengals’ new starting quarterback
Joe Burrow’s misfortune, as cruel as this sounds, can be Ryan Finley’s gain.
Finley, who turns 26 on December 26, is the Bengals’ new starting quarterback.
Before he came into the Week 11 loss at Washington, Finley’s only action this season came in a Week 3 tie with Carson Wentz and the Eagles. Finley played one offensive snap and didn’t complete a pass that day.
Finley completed three of his 10 passes for 30 yards and an interception against the Washington Football Team in relief of Burrow. The fierce Washington defense, led by star rookie Chase Young, sacked Finley four times in 18 snaps.
Finley also had a 19-yard rush. Washington won, 20-9.
Here is everything you need to know about Ryan Finley
Football fans are going to hear Ryan Finley’s name very often in the coming days and weeks.
A fourth-round pick in 2019, Finley started three games and completed 47.1% of his passes for 474 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions last year. Finley also had 77 rushing yards on 10 carries.
Originally from Phoenix, Ryan Finley began his career at Boise State and played three seasons there. Finley spent the 2016-18 seasons at NC State and earned first-team All-ACC honors in 2018, completing 67.4% of his passes for 3,928 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions that year.
Finley’s parents each played college sports at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. His mother, Robin, played women’s tennis and his father, Pat, played football.
Ryan’s brother, Ben, is a freshman quarterback at NC State. Ben completed 13 of 20 passes for 143 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions in a 48-21 loss to North Carolina on October 24.
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