By : Sean Markland

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is once again dealing with a major injury: turf toe. Joe Barrow went down grabbing his toe in the second quarter after being sacked by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Arik Armstead on Sept. 14. While it didn’t look too serious at first, ESPN later reported he could be out for up to three months with surgery needed.

The injury has led to debate about how the Bengals should handle their most valuable player. “I believe the Bengals should rest him,” Bengals fan and Bellbrook junior Levi Yoder said. “And tank for a high draft pick because we need him for next season, and I don’t believe we’re going to make it to the playoffs without Joe Burrow.”

Yoder also is worried this could follow the pattern of Burrow’s past year with multiple season-delaying injuries. “Yes, he has been having a lot of injuries and costing the Bengals, even though he’s been so good for us,” Yoder said.

Protecting Burrow has become one of the biggest issues for the Bengals. Burrow was sacked last season 48 times. “Protecting Burrow is very important because he is our most valuable player,” Bengals superfan and BHS senior Brady Read said. “I think it can start from upgrading our offensive line.”

Burrow’s offensive line has taken heavy criticism from the fanbase, with many believing it has directly led to Burrow’s repeated injuries.

The big question of whether the Bengals can stay competitive with playoff hopes without Burrow is optimistic from fans. Some fans believe a better backup quarterback could keep them afloat thanks to their strong wide receiver room.

Others are less optimistic, pointing to struggles on both sides of the ball. “I see a yes and no for playoff hopes,” Read said. “If the Bengals pick up a better QB and spend money on defense, we could be somewhat of a playoff team with our stacked WR [wide receiver] room. But the most recent results? No, because our offense and defense look very bad.”

The AFC North is one of the toughest divisions in football, and losing MVP candidate Burrow makes competing in the league even more challenging. “I think it will be extremely hard,” freshman Julian Smith said. “And if we want a chance, we need to get a new QB and spend money to upgrade defensive players if we want a shot at the AFC North title.”

Still, there is hope that turf toe won’t linger on the way his calf did in the 2023-2024 season. “If he takes his time and recovers 100%, I don’t believe it will be a lingering injury,” Smith said.

But for now, the Bengals face a difficult decision with pushing Burrow back into action to try and save the season or prioritize getting him fully healthy.