Schefter Says Joe Burrow's Season Is Likely over for Bengals After Toe Injury

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is likely to miss the remainder of the 2025 season after suffering a turf toe injury in last Sunday's Week 2 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday.

"As much as Joe Burrow's going to try to come back this year, the chances are we've seen the last of Joe Burrow," Schefter said at the 4:45 mark of Tuesday's Adam Schefter Podcast.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor told reporters on Monday that Burrow would undergo toe surgery, which Schefter initially reported would sideline the quarterback for at least three months.

Schefter added Tuesday that Burrow would likely undergo the surgery after swelling goes down later this week.

"My understanding in talking to doctors is it's really a 12-to-14 week injury," Schefter said.

Fox19's Jeremy Rauch described Burrow's injury on Sunday as a "turf toe with torn ligaments."

Schefter noted that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes underwent surgery on a turf toe injury shortly after Super Bowl LV in February 2021.

Virginia Zakas reported at the time for The Athletic that Mahomes was undergoing surgery on his left foot for "a torn plantar plate," which she described as "a thick ligament that runs along the base of the toe" that is critical for stability, running and pushing off.

The injury was still impacting Mahomes at least four months later. Although USA Today's Charles Goldman reported in June 2021 that Mahomes was "for the most part" not limited in minicamp, Chiefs coach Andy Reid told reporters at the time the team was still being "cautious" with their star quarterback.

Schefter pointed out that a similar recovery timeline for Burrow would leave the quarterback sidelined for the remainder of the regular season.

Even a three-month return timeline, assuming the quarterback can undergo surgery this week, would place Burrow's return around Week 15 in mid-December.

Burrow was helped off the field on Sunday after going down hard on a sack by Jaguars defensive tackle Arik Armstead in the first half. He was seen using a boot and a crutch after the game, per WLWT's Charlie Clifford.

Jake Browning, who led the Bengals to a comeback victory in Week 2 after Burrow's injury, will be tasked to start for the near future.

Practice squad signal caller Brett Rypien will meanwhile be elevated to backup, while Mike White and Sean Clifford are reportedly being signed to the practice squad, as the Bengals prepare to spend at least most of the 2025 season without Burrow.