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Bengals QB Joe Burrow undergoes turf toe surgery, placed on IR

Published 23 September 2025

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow underwent successful surgery on Friday to repair a Grade 3 turf toe suffered last Sunday and has been placed on injured reserve, the team said. Burrow was injured during the second quarter of the Bengals 31-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars and is expected to miss at least three months, leaving backup Jake Browning to start while the organization assesses a longer-term plan.

The procedure took place at Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center in Birmingham and was performed by Dr. Norman Waldrop, according to NFL Network reporting. Head coach Zac Taylor told reporters after practice Thursday that the surgery went well, though he declined to provide a precise recovery timetable beyond existing projections. Burrow had been placed on injured reserve earlier this week after imaging identified significant damage to the big toe joint consistent with a Grade 3 turf toe, a severe sprain that can include torn ligaments, tendon and capsule and often requires surgical repair.

Medical voices and media analysts have described differing expectations for Burrow's return. Dr. Brandon Bowers of Athletico said a 12-week recovery is feasible if...

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