The Cincinnati Bengals will be without star quarterback Joe Burrow for at least three months after he underwent surgery for a Grade 3 turf toe injury suffered in Week 2. Sources say he is expected to be out for a minimum of 12 weeks.
Despite the significant loss, the Bengals have opted not to pursue a veteran trade, instead placing their confidence in backup Jake Browning.
“Jake is an example of someone who’s truly prepared for a moment,” head coach Zac Taylor said leading up to the team’s Week 3 game against the Minnesota Vikings. “So that’s where his confidence stems from. And now you just go play football.”
This confidence is bolstered by Browning’s performance in 2023, when he stepped in after Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury in November and led the team to a 4-3 record as a starter.
While Burrow is unable to travel for the first two weeks of his rehabilitation, he is expected to remain involved with the team. A potential return in December is considered possible if his recovery proceeds perfectly and the Bengals are in playoff contention.
For Browning, this stretch as a starter holds major implications for his future. The 29-year-old, who signed as an undrafted free agent in 2019, will become a restricted free agent after this season. His performance will influence the Bengals’ decision on which contract tender to offer him—ranging from an original-round tender (valued around $3.4 million this year) to a first-round tender (worth $7.5 million). If another team signs him, the Bengals would receive draft pick compensation equivalent to the level of the tender.
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