Joe Burrow to Miss Extended Time with Turf Toe

The Bengals and quarterback Joe Burrow have shared considerable success since Burrow was drafted in 2020, even though the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl has remained elusive thus far. This period of accomplishment, however, has been marred by an unfortunate string of injuries that have continually plagued Burrow, beginning with his rookie season, which was prematurely ended due to a devastating ACL injury. Now, once again, Burrow faces a significant setback, as he is expected to miss an extended period because of a turf toe injury. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor confirmed on Monday that Burrow will undergo surgery on his toe, a procedure that is expected to sideline the star quarterback for at least three months. The injury occurred in the first half of Cincinnati’s recent game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, instantly raising concerns.

This marks the third time Burrow has been placed on injured reserve during his relatively short but impactful career. Naturally, it has reignited discussions about whether the Bengals organization is doing enough to protect the cornerstone of their franchise. While the Bengals maintain that their offensive line is not to blame for the unprecedented number of injuries Burrow has sustained, it is difficult to dismiss the possibility that insufficient focus on strengthening this critical position group has contributed to the problem. Since Burrow’s rookie season, the Bengals have consistently ranked near the bottom of the league in pass block win rate—a key ESPN metric powered by Next Gen Stats—never placing higher than 27th.

Despite these challenges, the Bengals have continued to rely heavily on Burrow and their high-powered passing attack. Last season, Cincinnati recorded the second-most pass dropbacks in the entire NFL, trailing only the Cleveland Browns. Their strategy yielded impressive results, as the Bengals led the league in both passing yards and passing touchdowns. This aggressive offensive approach highlights the team’s confidence in Burrow’s talent and ability to carry the offense, but it also underscores the pressing need to enhance the protection he receives up front. Without proper investments in the offensive line to protect the franchise star, throwing him out there season after season—while he places near the top of the league in passing attempts—is almost asking for bad things to happen. No matter how long the franchise denies it, if they don’t invest in Burrow’s health, their success as a franchise will plummet almost as fast as it ascended when he showed up.