The Cincinnati Bengals will reportedly be without the services of their superstar quarterback, Joe Burrow, for months after suffering an injury to his toe.
Burrow, 28, requires surgery and will be sidelined for at least three months, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The injury happened during the second quarter of the Bengals’ game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, September 14.
After being sacked by the Jaguars’ Arik Armstead, Burrow was left at the bottom of a pile of players.
Burrow attempted to walk off the injury, but fell to the field after a few steps. After being evaluated in the blue medical tent on the sidelines, Burrow required assistance to make it back to the Bengals locker room.
After the game, Burrow was seen in the locker room wearing a walking boot and using crutches.
In his absence, backup quarterback Jake Browning still managed to lead the Bengals to a 31-27 victory.
Browning, 29, completed 21 of 32 passes for 241 yards and two passing touchdowns. His rushing touchdown with 18 seconds remaining sealed the victory for the Bengals.
“Jake’s been in there and done it with us before,” said Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, who caught a 42-yard touchdown pass from Browning, after the game. “It was a no-brainer. We had faith in him to step in with no hesitation and no setbacks.”
A former quarterback at the University of Washington, Browning has been the Bengals’ backup for the past two seasons.
Browning appeared in nine games in the 2023 season, starting in seven of them, after Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury.
“When he comes in, he wins ball games,” Bengals center Ted Karras said after the game on Sunday. “No fear, no panic, got it done. That’s my guy. I think he’s obviously a starter in this league. We’re blessed to have good depth there. It sucks we have to test it.”
Despite the team’s faith in Browning, frustration was palpable in the locker room after the game.
Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase said, “Emotions are very, very high right now.”
“The resilient group found a way,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor added. “It feels like that’s what this year is turning into already.”
The Bengals return to action on Sunday, September 21, when they travel to Minneapolis to face the Minnesota Vikings.
