Burrow suffered a toe injury in the Bengals’ Week 2 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, forcing backup Jake Browning into the game in a nerve-wracking early September contest as Cincinnati improved to 2-0 for the first time under Taylor. The win represented an accomplishment for the Bengals but at the expense of Burrow, whose absence left the Bengals in a temporary bind and ultimately drove general manager Duke Tobin to make a deal for 40-year-old signal-caller Joe Flacco on Oct. 7.
Flacco’s arrival both stalled and revitalized Cincinnati’s offense. Since replacing Browning, the Bengals have averaged 32.75 points per game, a total that suggests they are back to winning ways even without Burrow.
That’s not the case with these Bengals, of course, but their defense has grown at the same time. Cincinnati is allowing an average of 36 points per game and is 1-3 with Flacco in the starting lineup.
Burrow can’t up and trot with the defense, but news of his imminent return will no doubt encourage those looking for a reason to believe the Bengals (3-6) can still make something out of the 2025 season. With games against Pittsburgh, New England and Baltimore next, Cincinnati will be challenged weekly before Burrow is ready to play.
Hopefully they can keep the ship afloat long enough to see their captain return.