
The Cincinnati Bengals received devastating news earlier this week regarding star quarterback Joe Burrow, despite their 2-0 start following a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Burrow left the game in the second quarter with a toe injury, which was later diagnosed as turf toe. Unfortunately, he suffered a Grade 3 injury, requiring surgery and a minimum recovery time of roughly three months.
After waiting for the swelling to subside, Burrow underwent surgery, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor confirmed on Friday. The procedure went as planned, and Burrow’s recovery is now underway as Cincinnati prepares to navigate the season without their star quarterback.
Zac Taylor said today that Joe Burrow underwent surgery this morning and that it went well, and he’s currently in recovery.
— SleeperBengals (@SleeperBengals) September 19, 2025
(via @Ben_Baby) pic.twitter.com/Jrbtqoq8rb
Now, the unbeaten Bengals face a challenging stretch without Joe Burrow, who could be sidelined until mid-to-late December—assuming a return is possible, which becomes unlikely if Cincinnati falls out of playoff contention.
Second-string quarterback Jake Browning will take over the offense. Fortunately, he has experience with the organization since 2021 and runs a similar style and game plan to Burrow, making the transition smoother.
Browning started for the Bengals in 2023, completing over 70% of his passes and going 4-3 in that span. He has experience playing with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and was central in Cincinnati’s comeback win over the Jaguars last Sunday.
In that game, Browning threw three interceptions but also totaled 241 passing yards and three touchdowns, including a rushing score to take the lead with just 18 seconds remaining.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, Browning remains focused.
“It’s show business,” Browning said Wednesday. “You start listening to all of that, you’re going to ride a roller coaster. I’m pretty focused on getting ready for Minnesota, the scheme, and trying to focus on that more than how everyone feels about us at the moment.”
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