Why is Joe Burrow Not Playing Tonight?
Joe Burrow is not playing tonight because of turf toe. He got hurt in Week 2 when Cincinnati played Jacksonville. The injury happened when his foot twisted the wrong way during a tackle. The team diagnosed it as Grade 3 turf toe, which means it’s serious. After the doctors checked him, he needed surgery.
The Bengals have stated that Joe Burrow is dealing with a left toe injury and is questionable to return.
Right now, his recovery timeline is at least three months. The earliest he might return would be late December, if everything goes perfectly. So, no Burrow in tonight’s game, or in any games for a while. The Bengals are using Jake Browning at quarterback until Burrow is healthy again.
Head coach Zac Taylor said there’s no clear comeback date set. He did confirm Burrow had surgery, but medical experts and sports analysts are not sure Burrow can be back in three months. That’s considered a very aggressive timeline. If Cincinnati makes the playoffs and Burrow’s rehab goes well, he could play in either Week 16 or right at playoff time. If the team falls out of the playoff race, the coaches will likely play it safe and keep Burrow out for the season.
Turf toe means a tear under the big toe. For a quarterback, this injury makes running and pushing off hard. The Bengals need to be careful, or Burrow’s career could take a long-term hit. For now, rehab has started, but his condition and Cincinnati’s playoff chances will decide when he really returns.
People are hoping to see him on the field in December. But nothing is guaranteed. Fans will need to watch for more updates from the team as the season goes on.
