The Cincinnati Bengals will be without star quarterback Joe Burrow for the foreseeable future, as he’s reportedly scheduled for toe surgery as soon as Friday.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Burrow’s operation is planned for Friday—assuming the swelling in his toe allows it. If the toe remains too swollen, the procedure could be pushed back “a few days.”
Joe Burrow suffered a turf toe injury midway through the second quarter of Sunday’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was trying to escape pressure in the pocket when he was sacked by Arik Armstead. Joe Burrow needed help off the field and was later spotted using a walking boot and crutch.
Head coach Zac Taylor confirmed on Monday that surgery is required. The expectation is that Burrow will miss at least three months. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the team has been reaching out to free-agent quarterbacks to bolster their depth. In the meantime, the Bengals have added Mike White and Sean Clifford to the practice squad.
If everything goes perfectly, Joe Burrow could return in mid-December, potentially for Week 15 against the Baltimore Ravens or Week 16 versus the Miami Dolphins.
In the meantime, Jake Browning will take over as the Bengals’ starting quarterback. He filled in against Jacksonville, going 21-of-32 for 241 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Browning, an undrafted free agent from 2019, didn’t play in an NFL game until his fifth season. He started the final seven games of 2023 for the Bengals when Burrow was sidelined with a wrist injury. The 29-year-old finished last season with the NFL’s best completion rate at 70.4%, throwing for 1,936 yards, 12 touchdowns, and seven interceptions across nine games.
Cincinnati is off to a 2-0 start this season after wins over the Jaguars and Cleveland Browns. The Bengals aim to keep that streak alive this Sunday when they face the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium.
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