Joe Burrow left the field on September 14. A foot injury will sideline him for about three months. Without him, the Cincinnati Bengals lost their starting quarterback and need his support soon. Clearly, the team will face tougher challenges without him.
Burrow completed 7 of 13 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown in Week 2 against the Jaguars. However, Arik Armstead sacked him in the second quarter, causing the toe injury. ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed that the 28-year-old quarterback will need surgery.
A race against time
According to Essentiallysports, Schefter posted on social media: “ESPN sources: Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will need toe surgery that will sideline him for at least three months.”
The key detail is that during those three months, the Bengals will play 11 NFL games, ending on December 14. This means the team will likely finish the year without their franchise quarterback.
Will we see Joe Burrow again this season? And can the Bengals hang in there until he gets back?@AlbertBreer answered those two questions for us this morning when he joined @THIThappens & @Bcarp3
Catch the full conversation with Breer right here: https://t.co/Aro9d6zSBy pic.twitter.com/kh0QDB7EIT— Morning Juice (@MorningJuice971) September 18, 2025
By that date, they will face the Ravens. But will Burrow be ready? NFL insider Albert Breer expressed optimism. On the Morning Juice podcast, he discussed Burrow’s injury and possible comeback:
“All the injuries he’s had, all the challenges he’s faced, and always the same thing: he fights through. If there’s a way back, knowing who Joe is, I know he’ll do everything possible. It will be interesting to see what the Bengals look like in November and December if there’s a chance to have him back by mid-December,” Breer said.
In his absence
Jake Browning will start at quarterback. Against the Jaguars, he completed 21 of 32 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Bengals to a 31-27 win. If Browning can carry the team to an 8-5 record and Burrow returns in December, the path to the playoffs could be much smoother, Breer added.
