As they tried to make their way back to the postseason, the Cincinnati Bengals leaned heavily on their offense. With a superstar quarterback in Joe Burrow and two excellent wide receivers in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the recipe for success was crystal clear. But a turf toe injury to Burrow immediately put a damper on their year, which resulted in Jake Browning taking over.
After his performances could not take the Bengals over the hump, and they went 0-3 through Weeks 3-5, the organization decided to make a move to not give up on the season as a whole. Trading for Joe Flacco from the Cleveland Browns, they instantly elevated the former Super Bowl champion into the starting quarterback role.
What Is Joe Burrow’s Injury?
Burrow went down in the backfield while facing off against a solid Jacksonville Jaguars defensive line in Week 2 and grabbed his left foot and ankle. Helped back to the locker room, he was diagnosed with a Grade-3 turf toe injury.
Requiring immediate surgical intervention, he was given a projected recovery timeline of three months at a minimum, according to most medical experts. Since then, the job has fallen to Browning, who has been far from the gunslinger that Burrow typically is.
That Flacco focus. pic.twitter.com/oyGTiX1Wld
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) October 12, 2025
Burrow was officially placed on injured reserve on September 16, ensuring he’ll miss at least four weeks. In reality, recovery is expected to take much longer. Three months from his surgery date would set his earliest potential return for mid-December, though several medical professionals have cautioned that even this timeline might be optimistic given the demands of playing quarterback.
Why Was Jake Browning Benched for Joe Flacco?
Ranking dead last on PFSN’s QB Impact, Browning threw eight interceptions in essentially 3.5 games, as the Bengals’ offense has become a true liability for them. As a result, the organization had to make a change, or they would have to give up on the season as a whole.
It quickly became clear that Browning wasn’t the answer, with players like Chase showing their frustration openly. In the three games that he served as the starter, Chase had less than 75 yards through the first two before racking up 110 yards in a shootout.
As team morale continued to go down, and the Bengals couldn’t capitalize on their first 2-0 start since either Taylor or Burrow came to the franchise, an upgrade at the most important position in the sport went from a luxury to a necessity.
That change arrived in the form of Flacco, who had given up his starting role in Cleveland to rookie Dillon Gabriel. Immediately after the trade, it was announced that he would be assuming the role of QB1, with the game against the Green Bay Packers in Week 6 his first chance to showcase his talents on Cincinnati’s roster.
