How Many More Hits Can the Bengals Star Quarterback Take?
The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is no stranger to major injuries, which have taken him out of a season. His latest setback, a severe toe turf injury that will require surgery and will sideline him for a minimum of three months, is his third major season-altering injury in his career. Reports show that a grade-three tear in a player’s toe, like Burrow’s, has been a season-ending sentence. In a 2021 study published in The Orthopaedic Journal at Harvard Medical School, out of the 25 NFL players who have suffered toe injuries requiring surgery between 2000 and 2017, five players did not return to the game and subsequently retired. The dreaded question looms over Burrow’s latest injury: how many more hits can he take before he is forced into a premature retirement?
The timeline of Burrow’s injuries is a growing hot topic amongst fans and news outlets. It began in his rookie year, when he was sacked 32 times in ten games, tearing his ACL, MCL, PCL, and meniscus, ending his season prematurely. Although he returned to lead the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance in the 2022 season, he did so behind an offensive line that allowed a staggering 70 sacks in the 2021 season and postseason. Once again in 2023, his season was cut short by a torn ligament in his wrist, but he came back strong in the 2024 season, winning the Comeback Player of the Year Award. Despite having played last year, he is once again plagued by a toe turf injury after Week Two’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Burrow is expected to make a full recovery; however, NFL doctor, Dr. David Chao, went on the record saying, “The early estimates of three months are optimistic. The only reason he might be able to return is because it is in his front foot…” Typically, the time frame for a full recovery and return from this form of surgery is four to six months, for a player of Burrow’s caliber, a full recovery is of the utmost importance. This timeframe would extend past the regular season, meaning that a safe and complete return to the field this year would be more than likely improbable. Now, Cincinnati is faced with a difficult choice: do they prioritize the long-term health of their franchise quarterback, or do they take the risk of bringing him back before his recovery is guaranteed to continue the 2-0 winning streak —the first in the Zac Taylor era?
Complicating this decision is the surprising performance of backup quarterback Jake Browning. Stepping into the spotlight against the Jaguars, Browning’s late-game heroics sealed a thrilling come-from-behind victory. His performance in the game was not just a one-hit-wonder, but rather a continuation of the poise he showed in 2023, when he stepped in for Burrow following his wrist injury. Browning went 4-3 as a starter, and his success gives the Bengals a crucial insurance policy, allowing them to prioritize Burrow’s long-term health and a full recovery without abandoning their Super Bowl aspirations.
Beyond the immediate consequences on the Bengals’ season, there are serious long-term concerns regarding Joe Burrow’s health. Each surgery and lengthy rehabilitation period degrades the player’s physical and mental durability. For a player who has now undergone two significant lower-body injuries and a major upper-body injury, the repeated physical trauma could also result in chronic pain and decreased athletic performance over time. The question, “how many hits can he take?” is no longer theoretical; instead, the answer may determine the arc of his career and his quality of life long after he hangs up his cleats. For the Bengals, the challenge is clear: if they want to maximize their window with their franchise quarterback, it is imperative they find a way to prevent such major injuries, a task that has been proven to be a dangerous struggle.
