Bengals QB Joe Burrow 'looks like' he needs toe surgery, head coach Zac Taylor says

Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News on Sep 15, 2025

Published in Football

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NEW YORK — The Cincinnati Bengals are going to be without Joe Burrow for a while.

The star quarterback “looks like he’s gonna need surgery” for the turf toe injury he suffered Sunday, head coach Zac Taylor said Monday.

“We’re still working through all the details of that, what that timeline’s gonna look like,” Taylor said.

Taylor said it’s yet to be determined whether Burrow will land on injured reserve, but ESPN reported the quarterback was expected to miss at least three months.

The Bengals plan to turn to backup quarterback Jake Browning in Burrow’s absence.

Burrow, 28, came up limping after he was sacked by Arik Armstead in the second quarter of Sunday afternoon’s 31-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Cincinnati. He was replaced by Browning and did not return.

Turf toe describes a sprain of the big toe’s joint and typically occurs when the toe is hyperextended.

Missing exactly three months would allow Burrow to return for Week 15 against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens at home on Dec. 14.

“I feel terrible for him because he has put in all the work, so for him to have to go through this is the worst part of it,” Taylor said. “But as a football team, we’ve just got to continue to move forward.”

Burrow, a two-time Pro Bowler and former No. 1 overall pick, led the NFL in passing yards (4,918) and passing touchdowns (43) last season.

He’s completed 21 of 36 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns without an interception in just over five quarters this year.

This is the third significant injury in six NFL seasons for Burrow, who suffered a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee as a rookie in 2020 and a season-ending right wrist injury in 2023, both of which required surgery. He missed a total of 13 games in those two seasons.

Offensive line issues have plagued the Bengals throughout Burrow’s tenure, ranking no better than 27th in pass block win rate in any of his six seasons, according to ESPN Research.

“I understand where people are gonna come from. It’s gonna be very attacking of us and our style of play that’s got us to a Super Bowl and an AFC Championship [Game] and two division titles and won a lot of games for us,” Taylor said.

“We’re always evaluating how we can protect our players and put them in the best position possible, so I take accountability for that, and if people want to blame me for putting him in a position, I’m fine taking that.”

Browning replaced Burrow after his 2023 injury and went 4-3 as the Bengals’ starter.

On Sunday, Browning completed 21 of 32 pass attempts with two touchdowns and three interceptions and led the game-winning drive in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter. Browning’s go-ahead rushing touchdown on a one-yard sneak with 18 seconds left served as the game-winner.

Cincinnati is expected to add another quarterback now that the position group is down to Browning and Brett Rypien, who has been on the practice squad.

“We have a ton of confidence in Jake,” Taylor said.

“Excited for Jake to go out and play, and he’s earned the right to be in the spotlight. Guys will rally around him.”

The loss of Burrow is a significant blow for a Super Bowl-hopeful Bengals team off to a 2-0 start. Cincinnati is looking to rebound from a disappointing 2024 season in which it finished 9-8 and missed the postseason.

The injury is also likely to affect the production of star wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, who both signed big-money contract extensions during the offseason.

Burrow is the second quarterback to suffer a turf toe injury this season. Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers sustained a less serious version of the injury in Week 1 and missed Sunday’s 26-21 win over the New Orleans Saints. Purdy could return as soon as this weekend.

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