For the first time in the Zac Taylor era, the Cincinnati Bengals won in Week 2. For the first time in the Zac Taylor era, the Cincinnati Bengals are 2-0. Unfortunately, for the THIRD time in the Zac Taylor era, Joe Burrow has suffered a significant injury. In the surprising come-from-behind win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2, Burrow hit the turf – as he’s so accustomed to thanks to the Bengals’ inability or apathy toward building a halfway-decent offensive line – and stayed down. Rumors swirled about whether the injury was an ankle sprain or even an Achilles’. As it turns out, it’s Turf Toe, and a bad case at that.
According to recent reports, Burrow suffered a Grade 3 Turf Toe injury. As a result, he will likely need surgery, and it will sideline him for about three months.
With two weeks down, if Burrow is only out 12 weeks, he may return when the calendar changes to 2026. At that point, will Jake Browning have been able to keep the team afloat?
#Bengals star QB Joe Burrow is feared to have suffered a Grade 3 turf toe injury, one that would require surgery and put him out at least 3 months, per me and @TomPelissero.
Burrow is still evaluating options, but the ones that would keep him on the field are dwindling. pic.twitter.com/UqYZejRoLa
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 15, 2025
Bengals Preparing To Be Without Star QB For Months
This is, without a doubt, the worst-case scenario. Of course, who could have guessed that the Bengals’ continually ignoring their greatest weakness and putting band-aids on bullet holes would result in a serious injury? If Burrow does not return, it will be his third season-ending injury in six seasons.
The comparisons to Andrew Luck after 2020 felt wrong. After his injury in 2023, it was hitting closer to home. Now, with Burrow’s third serious injury, he’s in a territory unknown to Luck. The Indianapolis Colts’ star quarterback abruptly retired right before the 2019 season. He was in the NFL for seven seasons and suffered two season-ending injuries. One of those, of course, was an injury late in 2016 that sidelined him for the entire 2017 season.
Burrow is now in his sixth season and could be shut down for the third time. Knowing Burrow’s work ethic and how, at least to this point, sacks and taking hits do not affect his mentality, he will likely do whatever he can to get back in time for the final few weeks. However, if the Bengals are eliminated from playoff contention, it may be an instance of protecting him from himself, shutting him down, and just trying to start anew in 2026.
Now What?
Browning is QB1. He’s been with the team for five seasons and was the go-to quarterback after Burrow’s 2023 injury. In his seven-plus-game stretch (including the game Burrow was injured), the Bengals went 4-4. He had a few decent starts and a couple of clunkers, as one would expect from a career backup. With Burrow sidelined for the foreseeable future, the Bengals will have to lean on him yet again.
In the win over the Jaguars, Browning did what he’s always done: he threw the ball fairly well and distributed it to his playmakers, all while making a few critical mistakes. In a game that saw Trevor Lawrence try to give the game away multiple times, Browning was right there with his three interceptions.
He is good enough to lead the Bengals’ offense. He doesn’t bring the superior diagnosing ability that Burrow does, but he has the arm talent to say, “screw it, Ja’Marr is down there somewhere.” As a result, Ja’Marr Chase tied his franchise record with 14 receptions for 165 yards and a touchdown.
The Bengals will have to back-fill the quarterback room. As it stands, only Browning is on the active roster with Brett Rypien on the practice squad.
Losing Burrow for an extended period of time is a massive blow. However, it’s not an unfamiliar situation.
In Burrow’s three fully-healthy seasons, the Bengals went to the Super Bowl in 2021, he received MVP votes in 2022, and led all quarterbacks in all passing stats in 2023. His career to this point is marred by the “when healthy” tag.
Imagine for a second the Bengals didn’t operate with an archaic business model. Imagine they had more than two scouts who could help them find legitimate offensive line talent in the draft. At this point, if Burrow Andrew Lucks the Bengals, it would be understandable.
Carson Palmer, as brash and infamous as he is, was right.
Main Image: Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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