Joe Burrow’s injury: What’s his turf toe, and how long will he be out?

Even in the preseason, the Cincinnati Bengals were considered serious contenders for the Super Bowl. After missing the playoffs the last two years, fans and analysts hoped this would finally be the team’s breakthrough year; however, Joe Burrow’s recent injury dashed all those hopes.

The Bengals’ start to the season looked promising. A tough 17-16 win over the Cincinnati Browns showed the team had the necessary balance of talent and toughness for a deep playoff run this season.

The game against the Jacksonville Jaguars started the same way, but then disaster struck. Quarterback Joe Burrow went down with an injury late in the first half when defensive tackle Arik Armstead tackled him. The diagnosis is something unusual: turf toe. But what is it, and what does it mean for the Bengals?

What is turf toe, and when will Burrow return?

Turf toe is a term that comes from the early days of synthetic turf. In those years, it was common for cleats to catch on the surface, causing damage to the foot joints, particularly the toes.

In the case of the big toe, this injury involves hyperextension of the joint; that is, the toe bends beyond its normal range of motion. This usually causes damage to the tendons and ligaments that form the plantar plate, also known as the ball of the foot.

There are different levels of this type of injury. A mild injury causes only pain and swelling; a partial ligament tear is a moderate injury; both typically heal on their own with rest within two to six weeks. Serious injuries, like Burrow’s, require surgery and can take 12 to 14 weeks to recover.

How will the Bengals adjust without Burrow?

This isn’t the first time the Bengals have had to make emergency adjustments due to Burrow’s injury. In 2023, the star signal-caller missed the final seven games of the season with a wrist injury. Backup Jake Browning stepped in, going 4-3 during his tenure.

In that stretch, Browning averaged 19.1 points per game, and while he failed to lead the Bengals to the postseason, he at least kept the ship afloat. This year, with more experience and the returns of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, he’s expected to deliver a solid performance until Burrow returns. Fans have their fingers crossed.