Credits: Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

When Will Joe Burrow Be Back? Bengals HC Zac Taylor’s Denial on Joe Burrow Injury Update Is Concerning for Bengals Fans!

Credits: Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

This Week 2 action already has a lot to unpack, but the biggest talk around is the Joe Burrow injury. Joe Cool suffered a turf toe injury to his left foot during the second quarter of the Bengals’ Week 2 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The injury occurred when he was sacked by defensive lineman Arik Armstead, causing his cleat to stick in the turf as he fell awkwardly.

Despite Burrow’s early exit, the Bengals rallied to a 31-27 victory. Backup quarterback Jake Browning stepped in seamlessly, orchestrating a crucial 92-yard touchdown drive in the final minute to secure the win. This refusal to lose highlighted the team’s depth and preparation, turning a potential collapse into a hard-fought win against a tough Jaguars defense.

Zac Taylor Refuses To Share Update on Joe Burrow Injury

While the Bengals won the game, showing resilience, we all knew that the focal point of the postgame interview will be Joe Burrow’s injury and his return timeline. During the postgame conference, Zac Taylor was asked about the inevitable Joe Burrow injury questions. However, Taylor shot down any questions about Burrow’s injury and let the reporters know that he had no updates to offer for the moment.

Zac Taylor speaks to the media following Week 2 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. https://t.co/on4CNG2sbR
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) September 14, 2025

How Bad is Joe Burrow’s Injury?

However, NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero have shared the latest update that indicates Burrow will be out for approximately three months. That is a significant blow to the Bengals’ fanbase, who were hoping for a deep playoff performance this season.

Bengals QB Joe Burrow feared to have suffered a Grade 3 turf toe injury that will require surgery and sideline him at least three months. (via @Rapsheet, @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/lxVnTj235H
— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2025

According to injury expert Marty Jaramillo, surgery may not have been required, as Burrow was seen walking off the field on his own, despite being in a lot of pain. But these ligaments do take time to heal.

Jaramillo expected Joe Burrow to miss anywhere between 3-6 weeks. However, the latest update has now confirmed that the Bengals’ signal caller will have to undergo surgery and take things from there. As per the timeline, Burrow is expected to be back only in mid-December, which means the regular season will be nearing the end at that point.

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Joe Burrow Injury – What is Turf Toe?

Joe Burrow suffered a turf toe injury, which is uncommon and not known by many. Turf toe is a tear of the underside of the ligaments of the big toe, often resulting from hyperextension, which can cause significant pain and swelling in the foot. It significantly impacts running, push off, or change of direction.

The majority of our body weight (60-70 percent) is supported by our big toe, which is why Joe Burrow could be out for a significant portion of time.

How Many Games Has Joe Burrow Missed in His Career Due to Injury?

Joe Burrow’s turf toe injury is devastating to the Bengals fan, but he has missed games earlier due to season-ending injuries, too. Burrow has missed a total of 13 games so far, as he missed 6 games from the 2020 knee injury, 1 from the 2021 knee strain, and 6 from the 2023 wrist injury.

Looking ahead, the injury poses challenges for Cincinnati’s high-powered offense, which relies heavily on Burrow’s precision and mobility. Without him, the passing game could stall, forcing reliance on the run and testing the offensive line’s protection issues even further.

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I cover the National Football League and things cannot get better than that. I always dreamed to play football or basketball professionally since I’m built like a Running Back. But now that I can’t, since I’m technically in the “Unc” age, I thought why not pick a career in sports industry? So here I am, doing what I love, and hoping that the Commanders win the Super Bowl. I give love to players when it’s due, but can be critical about their performances at the same time. Enough about me, now let my articles do all the talking.

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