Heart Break in Cincinnati: Bengals QB Joe Burrow to Miss Three Months After Toe Surgery
Bengals Fans Hold Their Breath as Joe Burrow Faces Three-Month Recovery After Surgery
Cincinnati Bengals fans got some tough news Monday. Star quarterback Joe Burrow will miss at least three months after undergoing surgery for a Grade 3 turf toe injury. The injury occurred in the second quarter of Cincinnati’s 31-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 14th. Burrow had to be helped off the field, then was later seen leaving the locker room on crutches with a walking boot on his left foot.
After the game, head coach Zac Taylor said he had no update, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed Monday that Burrow elected to have surgery, sidelining him until at least mid-December. If everything goes to plan, Burrow could return for a late-season playoff push in week 15 or 16, but nothing is guaranteed. This unfortunate situation has led fans to wonder whether Cincinnati can keep its playoff hopes alive without its franchise QB.
Understanding Turf Toe and Burrows Timeline
Turf toe may sound like a minor injury, but it can be brutal, and in Joe Burrow's case, a major setback. The injury is a sprain of the ligaments around the big toe joint and is graded on a scale from 1-3 according to The Cleveland Clinic. Burrow’s grade 3 diagnosis is the worst possible outcome, meaning surgery and a recovery window measured in months, not weeks.
Other quarterbacks, like San Francisco’s Brock Purdy, are expected to miss several weeks with turf toe, but a grade 3 tear is much more serious. If everything goes right, Bengals fans could see Joe Burrow come back for a late-season push against divisional rival Baltimore or Miami.
What This Means for The Bengals' Season
This injury comes at a tough time for Cincinnati, as they just started 2-0 for the first time under Zac Taylor. Backup QB Jake Browning stepped in Sunday and did just enough to help the Bengals escape with a win, throwing 241 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. The Bengals’ postseason hopes now rest on his ability to keep the offense strong, and on receiver duo Ja’marr Chase and Tee Higgins continuing to produce no matter who’s under center.
On the defensive side, Trey Hendrickson and the pass rush will need to keep the Bengals in games while the offense adjusts to the new situation. The next stretch of games will give a true test of whether this team is truly built to handle adversity.
The Emotional Toll
For Bengals fans, this injury brings back familiar feelings. Burrow missed the end of his rookie year with a torn ACL and missed the final six games of the 2023 season with a wrist ligament tear. Now, in what fans thought would be a bounce-back year, he’s once again sidelined. The frustration isn’t just about losing our star QB, but what it says long-term. Every hit Burrow takes raises questions about Cincinnati’s ability to keep their franchise quarterback protected.
Where the Bengals Go From Here
The Bengals' season is far from over, but the margin for error is gone. To remain alive in the playoff hunt, Jake Browning will need to limit mistakes, the defense must step up and continue creating turnovers, and big-time players like Ja’Marr Chase will have to carry the offense in critical moments.
If Cincinnati can survive through the coming months and have Burrow back by mid-December, they could still be a dangerous team in the AFC. But until that moment comes, it’s all about grit, determination, and showing this team is more than just its quarterback.