Joe Burrow is expected to be out for at least three months recovering from toe surgery, according to multiple reports.
The Cincinnati quarterback limped to the locker room in the second quarter of the Bengals’ 31-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday with a Grade 3 turf toe injury and exited the stadium on crutches with a boot on his left foot.
The Bengals (2-0) visit the Minnesota Vikings next Sunday with Jake Browning, who threw three interceptions against Jacksonville, as their QB1. The upcoming schedule takes the Bengals to Denver in Week 4 and Cincinnati faces the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers in the first three weeks of October.
Cincinnati last won its first two games of the season in 2018.
Using a three-month recovery projection, it’s possible Burrow could be a limited practice participant in early December and cleared to return from injured reserve for a Dec. 14 game against the Baltimore Ravens or a visit the following week to the Miami Dolphins (Dec. 21) in Week 16.
Burrow was injured with 8:36 left in the second quarter, while pointing toward his left foot. On a second-down pass play, the pocket collapsed and Burrow was trapped underneath.
The 28-year-old Burrow sat on the turf for a minute before getting up and receiving treatment in the medical tent. After five minutes in the tent, he began to make his way to the locker room under his own power before putting an arm on each shoulder of accompanying medical staff.
Burrow was 7-of-13 passing for 76 yards and a first-quarter touchdown pass to Ja’Marr Chase before the injury.
Burrow has completed 68.5 percent of his passes for 19,190 yards and 142 touchdowns to 46 interceptions in 71 career games. After recovering from a season-ending injury in the 2020 season, he was named Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year in 2021 when he guided the Bengals to the Super Bowl. He received the award again last season, though the Bengals did not make the playoffs.
Browning replaced Burrow and was 21 of 32 for 241 yards, two touchdowns with the three picks. He also scored the winning touchdown on a 1-yard quarterback sneak with 18 seconds left to cap a 15-play, 92-yard drive.
Browning, 29, started the final seven games of the 2023 season when Burrow sustained a season-ending wrist injury. He completed 70.4 percent of his passes for 1,936 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions in nine appearances that season before re-signing in free agency to stay with Cincinnati.
Veteran backup Brett Rypien is the third quarterback for Cincinnati, currently on the practice squad.
ESPN reported Cincinnati has started reaching out to free agent quarterbacks. Among the free agents are Desmond Ridder, who was with the Bengals for part of training camp, as well as Mike White, Taylor Heinicke, Kyle Trask, and Nate Sudfeld. They also could look at a trade for a veteran quarterback — Jameis Winston of the New York Giants and Case Keenum of the Chicago Bears are the third quarterbacks for their teams — or cull the list of QBs on NFL practice squads.
Several practice squad quarterbacks have starting experience, including Tyler Huntley, Bailey Zappe, C.J. Beathard, Jeff Driskel, Sam Hartman and Trevor Siemian.
–Field Level Media
