September 20, 2025

The Cincinnati Bengals just got a serious jolt! Their star quarterback, Joe Burrow, 28 years old and the team’s shining hope, suffered a painful turf toe injury in their Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The injury is not minor — Burrow must undergo surgery and will be out for at least three months, as confirmed by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Burrow’s injury story is sadly all too familiar. He faced a torn knee ligament in 2020 and battled through a wrist injury in 2023. Now, he faces another big hurdle. Adam Schefter shared this grim update: "ESPN sources: Bengals QB Joe Burrow will need toe surgery that will sideline him a minimum of three months." This means the earliest we might see Burrow back in action is mid-December, possibly for the Bengals’ game against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 15. As Caleb Noe from WCPO put it, "The optimistic timeline for Joe Burrow’s return is 3 months. If he’s healthy exactly 3 months from today (Dec. 15)… That would mean missing 12 games and returning for the final 3 weeks of the regular season." NFL insider Albert Breer added on the show Morning Juice, "If there’s a way to get back, just knowing who Joe is, I know he’ll do everything he can to get there," but he also shared how tough it is to see Burrow struggle with injury after injury. The Bengals’ playoff hopes now depend heavily on survival until Burrow’s return. Luckily, their late-season schedule looks promising, with potential wins against the Dolphins, Cardinals, and Browns possibly on the cards. In the meantime, the Bengals are placing their faith in Jake Browning. Last season, he showed glimpses of skill with a 4-3 record. In the recent win against the Jaguars, Browning dazzled by completing 21 of 32 passes for 241 yards and 2 touchdowns. To strengthen their roster, the Bengals also promoted Brett Rypien from the practice squad and signed former Packers quarterbacks Sean Clifford and Mike White. Adam Schefter confirmed on social media, "With Joe Burrow sidelined a minimum of three months, the Bengals are signing former Packers QB Sean Clifford to their practice squad, per source." For now, Browning holds the keys to the Bengals’ playoff dreams. If he keeps the team competitive, Burrow’s comeback late in the season could be the spark the Bengals need for a strong postseason push. But until then, Cincinnati must show grit and fight hard without their star quarterback.

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Tags: Joe burrow, Cincinnati bengals, Turf toe injury, Nfl, Caleb noe, Adam schefter,