Bengals QB Joe Burrow Out Three Months After Toe Surgery/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ morning Edition/ Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will undergo left toe surgery and miss about three months, a major setback for the team’s playoff hopes. Burrow was injured during Sunday’s win over the Jaguars and left the game on crutches. Backup Jake Browning will take over as starter in his absence.
Cincinnati (AP) — Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will undergo surgery on his injured left toe and is expected to miss three months, according to a person familiar with the situation. The news comes as the Bengals aim for their first playoff berth in three years, delivering an early-season blow to one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses.
The person disclosed the information on condition of anonymity ahead of head coach Zac Taylor’s scheduled news conference, where the team is expected to confirm Burrow’s status.
Burrow’s setback occurred in the second quarter of Sunday’s 31–27 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Sacked by defensive tackle Arik Armstead for a five-yard loss, Burrow immediately showed signs of discomfort. After briefly visiting the sideline medical tent, he limped toward the locker room.
By game’s end, Burrow left the stadium on crutches with his left foot in a boot.
In Burrow’s absence, Jake Browning will step into the starting role. Browning finished Sunday’s game by completing 21 of 32 passes for 241 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. He also scored the game-winning touchdown on a one-yard leap with just 18 seconds remaining.
Browning has appeared in 13 games for Cincinnati, posting a 4–3 record as starter during the 2023 season when Burrow was sidelined with a wrist injury.
The injury is especially untimely. The Bengals are 2-0 for the first time since 2018, raising hopes for a strong season after missing the playoffs the past two years. But their schedule now turns brutal, starting with a trip to face Minnesota and followed by five straight opponents that made the playoffs last year.
Without Burrow, Cincinnati faces uncertainty about its offensive consistency and playoff potential.
The setback marks Burrow’s third major injury in six NFL seasons. Drafted first overall in 2020, his rookie year was cut short by a knee injury that cost him six games. In 2023, a wrist injury ended his season seven games early.
Despite those setbacks, Burrow has proven himself as one of the league’s most prolific passers. Last season, he led the NFL with 4,918 passing yards and 43 touchdown passesreaffirming his status as Cincinnati’s franchise cornerstone.
The Bengals have not indicated whether Burrow will return late in the season, but the three-month timetable places his comeback near the end of the regular season. For now, the team will have to rally around Browning while hoping Burrow can recover in time for a potential playoff run.
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