The Cincinnati Bengals are bracing for a long stretch without star quarterback Joe Burrow.
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Burrow left Sunday's win over the Jaguars with a toe injury, and tests revealed torn ligaments. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter via Pro Football Talk, Burrow will undergo surgery and is expected to miss a minimum of three months. That timeline leaves only a slim chance for a late-season return, and Cincinnati is preparing to move forward without its franchise quarterback for the foreseeable future.
Jake Browning stepped in against Jacksonville and managed to lead a game-winning drive, though his performance was uneven, throwing three interceptions along the way. Practice-squad quarterback Brett Rypien is also an option, but the Bengals are expected to evaluate additional depth at the position.
Burrow's absence is a major blow for a franchise that has been transformed since drafting him No. 1 overall in 2020. After starting his college career at Ohio State, he transferred to LSU, where he won the Heisman Trophy and a national championship in 2019.
With Cincinnati, Burrow delivered the franchise's first playoff win since 1990 and a trip to Super Bowl LVI during the 2021 season. He has twice been named Comeback Player of the Year and, in 2023, signed what was then the largest contract in NFL history in terms of annual salary.
Nicknamed "Joe Cool" and "Joe Brrr" for his calmness under pressure, Burrow has become the face of the Bengals' resurgence. For now, though, the team will have to try to stay in contention without him.
