Two weeks into the season, Cincinnati looked like a team on the rise— until a single play left Joe Burrow limping off the field, all because of a toe. Most people might think it’s just a minor tweak: tape it up and get back on the field. But for a quarterback, a Grade 3 turf toe is far from simple. As Burrow prepares for surgery in Birmingham with renowned foot-and-ankle specialist Dr. Norman Waldrop this Friday, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has battled the injury himself, stepped in this week to explain just how devastating it can be.

On the Let’s Go! podcast, Stafford broke down the situation in detail. “It’s really tough. And then there’s different degrees. Sometimes you’re getting turf toe and you have to go get it fixed, which, it sounds like, that’s what Joe might need to have done, which is a lengthy process…Anytime you’re having surgery and they’re having to fix either a tendon or a ligament or something like that, (it’s a) lengthy process. And then other times, you can rest and try to heal it…like a sprained ankle, some guys get their ankle sprained, and they rest it. Other guys get it fixed. It just depends.” Similarly, turf toe, an injury to the metatarsophalangeal joint at the base of the big toe, can range from a mild sprain needing rest to a severe case requiring surgery when ligaments or tendons are badly damaged.

To make it clearer, Stafford compared the toe to a thumb. “Everybody goes… thumbs are nothing. And then you go hurt your thumb and you don’t realize how often you use it.” The big toe is used constantly for pushing off, planting, pivoting, and generating power from the ground– movements that quarterbacks rely on every play. “We’re on our feet as athletes, and you can’t push off. You can’t do any of the things that you need to do to play the game when you have that toe issue. So it sounds like a small thing, but it’s one of those things that you use every single day. And in our sport, it is so critical to be able to have full function and be pain-free from there.” Then, he shared his own battle with a toe injury he’d had.

Late in the Rams’ regular-season finale against the 49ers in 2022, Stafford’s toe was landed on awkwardly. The hit left him sore, but Stafford made it clear it wouldn’t limit him in the playoffs, saying he was feeling much better after treatment. When asked about showing his toe, he jokingly referenced Aaron Rodgers, who famously held up his bare foot on Zoom last November to prove he didn’t have “COVID toe” but a fracture instead. “I’ll keep my toes to myself in this one,” Stafford said, noting that, while the injury was real, he was ready to play.

So, when it came to Burrow’s situation, he shared some of his hard-earned perspective, saying: “Everybody’s is different. You can’t just say turf toe and everybody’s is the same, right?  Depends on the severity of it. It’s not a fun injury. It lingers. It’s painful, but sometimes there’s the ability to steal plate, the shoe or tape it up and go.” For every player, the severity of the injury decides what kind of treatment they are supposed to go for.

For instance, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders battled the injury in 1998 and faced long-term issues, including multiple toe amputations later in life. Steve McNair hobbled through it wearing a boot before eventually opting for surgery. Davante Adams missed just four games in 2019 and didn’t have to go for surgery. Patrick Mahomes played through turf toe pain during the Chiefs’ 2021 playoff run, only to have surgery after that season. And more recently, Brock Purdy is also dealing with a variant of turf toe, but has only been sidelined for several weeks. Stafford then touched up on Burrow’s recovery and comeback:

Stafford said, “Anytime you cut on somebody and have to open them up and fix something, especially as delicate as maybe down there by a toe. That’s a small area. It’s really delicate, but at the same time, that thing is going to hold weight for the rest of your life and really for the rest of the season..So, trying to get the body to be able to rest and heal that, but then get the strength and motion back while being safe, stepping on it every day. It’s a difficult one. I would imagine.”

He couldn’t pinpoint exactly when Burrow might step back on the field. But as per reports, a recovery timeline of roughly three months is being projected. Does it mean Burrow is sidelined for the season? 

Will Burrow Return This Season?

While the turf toe has already sidelined Joe Burrow for the Bengals’ upcoming games, head coach Zac Taylor left the door open for a possible return later in the season. Speaking at a Wednesday press conference, Taylor confirmed that Burrow would spend “at least next four weeks” on injured reserve, the minimum required. But he also highlighted that the timeline could extend depending on how the recovery goes. 

When asked if the team had ruled out a comeback this season, Taylor’s one-word answer was clear: “No.” This cautious optimism is rooted in Burrow’s history of battling through injuries and still managing to show up. To put the turf toe setback into perspective, it is the latest in a string of injuries Burrow has battled throughout his career:

• Aug. 22, 2017: Broke a bone in his throwing hand at Ohio State; underwent surgery, missing competition for QB2.
• Jan. 13, 2020: Tore rib cartilage in the first half of the CFP National Championship for LSU; remained in the game and won the title.
• Nov. 22, 2020: Rookie season, tears ACL and MCL, plus PCL and meniscus damage in left knee after a low hit.
• Dec. 5, 2021: Dislocated pinky finger on his throwing hand after a sack; stayed in game, threw for 300 yards.
• Jan. 2, 2022: Aggravated previous knee injury against the Chiefs; could have returned to play.
• Feb. 13, 2022: Sprained MCL during Super Bowl sack; required rehab, avoided surgery.
• July 27, 2023: Calf strain in training camp; returned for regular season.
• Nov. 16, 2023: Tore a wrist ligament vs. Ravens; missed remainder of season.

 But until then, the Bengals are turning to backup Jake Browning to lead the offense. The team’s hope now hinges on expert surgical care and cautious rehabilitation, with the long-term future prioritized over short-term glory.