Joe Burrow wasn’t exactly thrilled with how the Bengals opened their season, as he came into Week 2 against the Jaguars determined to flip the script. But Jacksonville’s defensive lineman Arik Armstead had other plans. Early in the second quarter, Armstead got to Burrow for a sack, and that was all it took. The quarterback stayed down, and suddenly Paycor Stadium went quiet.

Trainers rushed in, immediately pointing to his ankle. With a few minutes left in the first half, Burrow was helped off and straight into the medical tent. Jake Browning, a seven-year veteran who’s been with the Bengals since 2021, took over, but the concern was clear. Sports physician Jesse Morse reported it looked like Burrow’s right ankle, and not long after, the injury analyst Deepak Chona hinted it could be a serious concern.

Cameras then caught Burrow heading to the locker room without a show on his left foot, limping noticeably. Nothing is official yet, but Chona raised the possibility of an Achilles issue—something that could derail not just Burrow’s season, but the Bengals’ season as well. That stings, because before leaving, he was moving the offense decently: 7-of-13 for 76 yards and a touchdown.

It’s safe to say that the injury bug just won’t stop biting the Bengals’ quarterback. Since tearing his ACL, MCL, and PCL as a rookie in 2020, Burrow has had a dislocated pinky, an MCL sprain in the Super Bowl, a calf strain in 2023, and a torn wrist ligament in the Week 10 game of the 2023 season. Add a possible Achilles to that list, and you’re looking at a brutal trend for a 28-year-old already in his seventh NFL season.

And that’s the worst-case scenario for Cincinnati. Just last year, Burrow led the league in passing yards (4,918 ) and touchdowns (43). However, he still couldn’t drag the Bengals into the postseason. If there’s any shot of flipping the script in 2025, they need him on the field. Right now, though? His return feels anything but certain.

Joe Burrow struggles to walk properly, reportedly due to a toe injury

It happened quickly. Joe Burrow was sacked. He couldn’t get up. He then stayed on the turf for a while, grabbing his leg. And as the breathtaking scene unfolded at Paycor Stadium, the quietness was palpable. The fans were shocked, with their hands resting on their heads in agony. However, Burrow tried to walk under his own power to the locker room, giving a hint of his early return.

But halfway through the locker room, it was confirmed that Burrow might not return for the rest of the game. The quarterback realized he couldn’t walk on his own and then put both his arms around the trainers before continuing into the tunnel. Fast forward to now, and his return during Sunday’s Week 2 clash against the Jaguars is unlikely. The crystal? The quarterback went down with a toe injury, per reports.

While it’s early to predict for Week 3, sure, but we’re hopeful the Burrow could get healthy before the Week 3 clash against the Vikings.