Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will undergo surgery for a turf-toe injury and is expected to miss at least three months, coach Zac Taylor said Monday, with backup Jake Browning slated to take over as the team’s starter while Cincinnati evaluates quarterback depth.
Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow will have toe surgery and is expected to be sidelined for a minimum of three months, coach Zac Taylor announced Monday, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Burrow injured the toe in the first half of Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Images of his left toe were shared with foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson for review, league sources said.
With Burrow likely out for most of the season, the Bengals are expected to start backup Jake Browning as their QB while the team navigates the next stretch.
Burrow’s injury history as a Bengal is long and notable: a torn ACL and MCL in 2020 (missed six games), a dislocated pinkie in 2021, an MCL sprain in Super Bowl LVI, a calf issue in 2023 that he played through, a wrist injury in 2023 (seven games missed), and now turf toe in 2025 (out at least three months), per ESPN research.
Taylor said a surgery date hasn’t been set yet; the team expects to finalize the next steps in the coming days.
“There’s not a lot we can do right now for Joe other than I feel terrible for him because he put in all the work,” Taylor said. “For him to have to go through this is the worst part of it. But as a football team, we just have to continue to move forward.”
After the injury news, Cincinnati’s Super Bowl odds at ESPN BET swung from 20-1 to 75-1, and their playoff chances dropped from a -155 favorite to make the postseason to a +210 underdog at the sportsbook.
The team believes the injury happened when Jaguars defensive end Arik Armstead sacked Burrow with 8:36 left in the first half.
Taylor repeatedly defended the offensive line but stressed the injury was not solely on them; he said all 11 offensive players weren’t in sync on the play. Taylor also defended the team’s aggressive passing attack, noting that it’s the style that powered their 2021 Super Bowl run and deep playoff runs in 2022.
“We’re always evaluating how we can protect our players and put them in the best position possible,” Taylor said, adding he takes accountability for play-calling and player usage if critics want to blame him.
Browning, who started seven games in 2023 after Burrow’s season-ending wrist injury, is expected to take the reins. The Bengals had no other quarterback on the active roster Monday evening; Brett Rypien remains on the practice squad.
Taylor and offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said they will consider adding a third QB for depth but voiced confidence in Browning, praising his work ethic and how he’s earned teammates’ trust since joining the organization in 2021.
Despite the setback, Taylor said locker-room energy remains “sky high.” Cincinnati was aiming to build on its first 2-0 start since 2018, and receiver Andrei Iosivas noted that film review focused on fixing a string of bad plays rather than morale.
“You need to set a tone early,” Iosivas said. “Training camp is one thing. But then the regular season comes in and then you really see what is happening.”
Cincinnati believes Browning can lead the club to wins and still contend for the postseason even with Burrow sidelined for months, a confidence Taylor reiterated: “I feel very confident in Jake. I think Jake has proven his caliber in this league and he can help us win football games and contend for all the things that we want to contend for.”
