Joe Burrow (Image Source: Getty)

Cincinnati Bengals star QB Joe Burrow left the second quarter of Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a toe injury. It happened when Burrow was being taken down by defensive tackle Arik Armstead, who helped collapse the pocket. He appeared to point to his left foot, remained down for a short time, then went to the medical tent for examination.Burrow went 7 of 13 passing in between, with 76 yards and a 4-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Marr Chase. He was originally deemed questionable to return before being ruled out for the rest of the game. Imaging, including an MRI, was done on-site at the stadium by medical staff. Burrow, however, was spotted leaving the field on a one-legged scooter, refusing to place weight on his hurt foot.

Jake Browning steps in as Bengals prepare for next stretch

When Burrow left the game, backup quarterback Jake Browning stepped into the huddle. Browning has stepped up for the Bengals before, filling in for Burrow during the 2023 season when he was sidelined with a wrist injury. That season, he started 7 games, going 4-3, and passed for around 70% of his attempts with 12 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.Browning flashed some potential in this game, but he also did what you would expect of a guy who came off the practice squad this week in terms of inconsistency. Now, all that can change with Burrow’s availability and Browning’s play because it’s up to Browning if Burrow is out for any length of time. That quick acclimation will be extremely important as Cincinnati readies for the 2023 MLB Playoffs.Also Read: Joe Burrow publicly supports Mitchell Tinsley and calls on Cincinnati Bengals during ongoing Hendrickson

Recovery timeline remains unclear for Joe Burrow

Burrow’s toe injury is being evaluated, and its severity hasn’t yet been determined. The imaging scans will go to the Bengals’ medical staff, who will probably be trained on whether it is sprained, broken, or worse. Toe injuries can have wide-ranging recovery times, but even one that is only moderate can hinder the QB’s mobility and push off to throw the ball.If Joe Burrow is out for an extended period, the Cincinnati Bengals may have to adjust their offensive game plan. Keeping Browning out of harm’s way and taking some of the complexity out of the offense quickly might become high priorities. This could spell fewer deep shots for the Bengals’ stars, such as Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and a short-term conservative approach in the passing game.