CINCINNATI \u2014 Despite a wild 31-27 win featuring a touchdown in the final seconds to pull off the first 2-0 start under Zac Taylor, the Cincinnati Bengals locker room wasn\u2019t exactly a party scene after Sunday\u2019s bout with the Jaguars.<\/p>\n
Many answers were short, frustration was evident and all eyes were on Joe Burrow walking across the locker room with a boot on his left foot and a single crutch under his right arm.<\/p>\n
Burrow was hurt again, and the Bengals were coming to terms that this doesn\u2019t look like a quick fix.<\/p>\n
It won\u2019t be. League sources told The Athletic\u2019s Dianna Russini that Burrow suffered a severe turf toe injury<\/a> that could require surgery, possibly keeping Burrow out for three months.<\/p>\n Dr. Jessica Flynn, a sports medicine physician and analyst with more than 15 years of experience, said the tape clearly showed a turf toe injury by the nature of his movement on the play. She said the worst-case scenario would require Burrow needing surgery. He and the Bengals are seeking second opinions on whether surgery is the correct move.<\/p>\n San Francisco\u2019s Brock Purdy also is sidelined with a toe injury. The 49ers referred to it as a \u201cturf toe variant,\u201d and The Athletic previously reported that Purdy could miss multiple weeks<\/a>. It was a grade 2, but that would be considered a desirable result compared to the alternative the Bengals are now facing.<\/p>\n Turf toe is defined by the Cleveland Clinic as an injury to your big toe joint when ligaments, tendons or soft tissues stretch or tear.<\/p>\n The surgery path is as bad as this injury could possibly get, and have Burrow checking back in December. That\u2019s the piece of news everyone will be waiting to hear.<\/p>\n A player can play through turf toe in less severe cases. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered turf toe in January of 2021 and played the AFC Championship and Super Bowl through the injury. He used a carbon fiber foot plate in his cleat to help play through the pain as Kansas City eventually lost in Super Bowl LV to Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n A player with this type of injury loses most of their ability to push off with the foot, unless it is a mild case, making powering through a non-starter.<\/p>\n How long the Bengals will have to go forward with Jake Browning<\/a> will come into focus in the coming days. Cincinnati knows it can keep the team churning with Browning because it has seen it before. On Sunday, he led a 12-play, 92-yard drive for the game-winning touchdown in the final minutes.<\/p>\n Browning took over during the final seven games in 2023 when Burrow was lost for the season with a wrist injury. He went 4-3 as a starter and completed over 70 percent of his passes. The Bengals even went on a three-game win streak during that time, which included, ironically enough, a victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars and next week\u2019s Cincinnati opponent, the Minnesota Vikings.<\/p>\n \u201cJake\u2019s been in there and done it with us before,\u201d said Tee Higgins, who caught a 42-yard touchdown pass from Browning. \u201cIt was a no-brainer; we had faith in him to step in with no hesitation and no setbacks.\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s an obvious confidence inside the locker room in Browning\u2019s ability to win games, no matter how long Burrow\u2019s sidelined.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen he comes in, he wins ball games,\u201d center Ted Karras said. \u201cNo fear, no panic, got it done. That\u2019s my guy. I think he\u2019s obviously a starter in this league. We\u2019re blessed to have good depth there. It sucks we have to test it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI saw everyone buckle down and make a play so we could go win the game.\u201d<\/p>\n Presented by @KetteringHealth<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/IHRDOu8bWw<\/a><\/p>\n\n