Joe Burrow out with turf toe: What is it, and what would extended time away mean for the QB, Bengals?

CINCINNATI -- As Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was helped into the locker room with an injured toe in the first half of Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the future of a team with Super Bowl aspirations limped into uncertainty.

Burrow was ruled out in the second half, but that didn't stop the Bengals from pulling out a 31-27 win for their first 2-0 start in seven years.

Jake Browning came on in relief and completed 21 of 32 attempts for 241 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. He looks to be the starter for the foreseeable future after ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Burrow's turf toe could require surgery, according to sources. If surgery is deemed necessary, Burrow is expected to be sidelined for approximately three months.

Burrow has battled injuries throughout his career. Most recently, he suffered a season-ending right wrist injury in 2023, and Browning came on in relief and went 4-3. Burrow played in all 17 games in 2024 and turned in a career year, which earned him Pro Bowl honors and made him an MVP finalist.

So what does the injury mean for Burrow's season? And how will it impact the Bengals, including fantasy stars such as Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins? Bengals reporter Ben Baby, ESPN senior writer and injury analyst Stephania Bell and NFL fantasy analyst Matt Bowen break down the biggest questions.

How will the Bengals adjust to potentially losing Burrow for months?

If Burrow cannot play for an extended period of time, Browning will take over as the starter. Browning has plenty of experience in that role. In 2023, when Burrow suffered a season-ending right wrist injury, Browning started the final seven games of that season and went 4-3.

Browning kept Cincinnati in the playoff hunt until Week 17, when the Bengals were eliminated with a loss to Kansas City. Still, Cincinnati finished that season with a 9-8 record and did well enough that Tennessee hired offensive coordinator Brian Callahan to be the Titans head coach.

Browning spent the first four years in the NFL on practice squads before moving into the backup role in 2023. It also helps that Cincinnati bolstered its passing attack by re-signing Chase and Higgins this offseason. Chase finished Sunday's game against Jacksonville with 14 catches for 165 yards and one touchdown.

"We've been here before with Jake," Chase said. "We've got to let him be himself at the end of the day. We've all got to push him to (be) better, push us to be better and just execute." -- Baby

What exactly is turf toe?

Most commonly, it is a hyperextension injury at the big toe (forcing the toe to extend beyond its normal range of motion) that damages the associated ligaments and results in a turf toe injury. The name originates from the early days of artificial turf when cleats would engage with the turf and stick while the body weight came over the top of the foot, thus forcing the toes into hyperextension. But it should be noted the injury can happen on any surface.

With the big toe being the last part of the body to leave the ground during push-off, it is subject to the most potential strain. Players often describe the pain from the injury as feeling like a nail is being driven through the toe as they try to push off.

The degree to which the supportive soft tissue structures around the base of the big toe are injured determines the severity. Excessive stretch resulting in pain and inflammation but no structural damage is considered a mild injury. Partial tearing of the ligaments in the area with perhaps some mild instability is considered a moderate injury. Mild and moderate injuries are typically treated with rest and rehabilitation and can generally heal on their own.

Complete tearing of the plate is a severe injury that requires surgical repair. The athlete loses the ability to push off the toe and experiences a decline in strength through the foot. In the case of a severe injury, failure to repair the plantar plate will leave the joint unstable and can lead to further degenerative changes of the joint (arthritis) over time, potentially making it difficult to walk. -- Bell

How long does it take to heal completely?

The range of time for healing can vary depending on a number of factors unique to the athlete, but generally speaking, mild-to-moderate injuries can heal within several weeks, scaling for severity from two-to-three weeks to six weeks or more. Surgical repair requires greater healing time, generally 12 to 14 weeks -- or longer -- before clearance to return to play. -- Bell

Are there special concerns when a QB has the injury?

Whether it is driving through the leg to throw, dropping back to pass, pivoting to hand the ball off, or perhaps most importantly, having enough mobility to protect oneself, the big toe plays a critical role for a quarterback. The ability to perform all aspects of the position without limitation are criteria for a successful return.

Footwear adaptation such as a more rigid shoe or a carbon fiber insert to limit motion of the involved joint is typically part of the plan as well. -- Bell

What impact will Browning have on Chase, Higgins and Chase Brown in fantasy?

When Browning relieved Burrow in '23, he averaged 19.1 points per game. An aggressive thrower, Browning will attack tight windows and push the ball to the third level of the defense.

That works for Chase, who will remain a volume target with top-3 upside in weekly rankings. Higgins still has breakout-game ability with Browning due to his formation flexibility and vertical presence; however, he will slide into the WR3 range.

In the run game, Brown will get the touches to stick in the RB2 mix, while he has the traits to produce as an underneath outlet for Browning on checkdowns and screens. -- Bowen

Who will back up Browning, and are there other options?

The Bengals have just two quarterbacks on their roster: Browning and Burrow. If Burrow misses significant time and is forced to go on injured reserve, Brett Rypien is the logical choice to be the team's No. 3 quarterback. Rypien, 29, has appeared in 10 NFL games since entering the league in 2020 and is currently on the practice squad.

In that scenario, Cincinnati is still one quarterback short of what it typically carries throughout the season. If Rypien is signed to the active roster, that opens a spot on the practice squad. However, if it's a short-term absence, the Bengals could also opt to elevate Rypien up to three times before being forced to carry him on the 53-player roster.

Cincinnati has taken a deep look at its reserve quarterback in recent months. In training camp, the Bengals opted to get rid of Logan Woodside and replace him with Desmond Ridder. Ridder, a 2022 third-round draft pick by the Falcons, was cut at the end of the preseason and replaced by Rypien. -- Baby