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Bengals’ star QB doesn’t return to game after taking sack

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Joe Burrow left the Bengals’ game against the Jaguars on Sunday in the second quarter.
Burrow remained on the field after taking a sack from Jaguars defensive lineman Arik Armstead.
Burrow was replaced in the game by backup quarterback Jake Browning.

Joe Burrow exited the Cincinnati Bengals’ 31-27 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday with a toe injury and did not return.

Burrow remained down on the field after being sacked by Jaguars defensive lineman Arik Armstead on a second-and-20 in the second quarter. Trainers attended to him before he went to the sideline and entered the medical tent before heading to the locker room with an apparent limp.

Burrow was initially designated as questionable to return at halftime but was later ruled out for the remainder of the contest.

Burrow was diagnosed with turf toe, according to Fox-19 in Cincinnati, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport and Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer. No timetable for his return has been reported. ESPN’s Adam Schefter, however, reported that images of images of Burrow’s injury are being sent to foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson,

After the game, however, Bengals coach Zac Taylor said he did not have an update on Burrow’s status and was not certain what happened on the play in which the quarterback was hurt. Burrow left the locker room on a crutch while wearing a walking boot. If surgery is determined to be necessary, the procedure would be expected to sideline Burrow for three months, Schefter reported.

Backup quarterback Jake Browning entered the game in his place. With the Bengals trailing 27-24 late in the fourth quarter, he capped a 15-play, 92-yard touchdown drive by going over the top on a quarterback sneak to put Cincinnati up for good with 18 seconds remaining. He finished with 241 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions.

“Resilient group. Found a way,’ Taylor said in a postgame news conference. ‘Feels like that’s what this year is turning into already.”

Burrow completed eight of 14 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game.

Injuries have plagued Burrow throughout the early portion of his career, with both his rookie campaign in 2020 (torn anterior cruciate ligament) and his 2023 season (wrist) being cut short. The two-time NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award winner made light of the dynamic in February.

“I wouldn’t say this is necessarily an award you wanna be nominated for two times,” Burrow said during his acceptance speech at NFL Honors. ‘But I’m proud of the work I’ve put in to come back from these injuries I seem to face every year.

This story has been updated with new information.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY