Injured Commanders WR to be absent at least four more games

The Washington Commanders have already gone most of the season without wide receiver Noah Brown, who has been dealing with a groin injury. Brown’s absence will extend for at least four more games, as the team placed him on IR on Wednesday. He’ll be eligible to return in Week 11.

Brown, who last played in a Week 2 loss to the Packers, has caught three of seven targets for 36 yards this season. The 29-year-old appeared to be making progress when he returned to practice last week, but head coach Dan Quinn said his injury “didn’t respond” (via Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic). Quinn added that Brown will not require surgery (via John Keim of ESPN.com).

Without Brown and fellow injured receiver Terry McLaurin (quad), the Commanders fell to 3-3 with a loss to the Bears in Week 6. Quinn said McLaurin will practice this week, meaning he could play against the division-rival Cowboys on Sunday.

With only two appearances from Brown and three from McLaurin this season, the Commanders and second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels have had to count on Luke McCaffrey, Chris Moore and Jaylin Lane to step up as targets alongside Deebo Samuel and Zach Ertz. Despite the injuries, Washington’s offense still ranks seventh in the NFL in points per game and 12th in total yards.

Along with placing Brown on IR on Wednesday, the Commanders announced the signing of defensive end Drake Jackson and signed guard Julian Good-Jones to their practice squad. Good-Jones had been a free agent since the Commanders released him with an injury designation on Aug. 20. The 28-year-old made his lone regular-season appearance in the NFL with Washington in 2023.

When will Joe Burrow return? Turf toe recovery timeline, return date for Bengals star QB

The Cincinnati Bengals are having a rough go in 2025, largely because quarterback Joe Burrow hasn’t been in the lineup since Week 2.

Burrow, the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and two-time NFL Comeback Player of the Year, suffered a serious toe injury midway through Cincinnati’s second game of the season. Without him, the Bengals have struggled mightily and are hoping for his return sooner rather than later.

Is that possible? Based on Burrow’s injury designation, treatment, and rehab, here’s what has been said about his potential return to the field in 2025.

When will Joe Burrow return?

Burrow was placed on injured reserve on Sept. 16 and underwent surgery on his left foot on Sept. 19, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor confirmed.

Taylor declined to give a timeline for Burrow’s return, but he is expected to miss at least three months, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. That timeline would keep Burrow out until at least Dec. 19.

If cleared, Burrow could return for Week 16 of the Bengals’ season, which is scheduled for Dec. 21.

MORE: How Joe Flacco trade impacts Jake Browning, Bengals QB room

Is Joe Burrow out for the season?

No, Burrow has not been ruled out for the season. Several factors will impact his potential return, one of the biggest being the Bengals’ team success.

Based on the current timeline, Cincinnati will have played 14 games by the time Burrow could be cleared. If the Bengals are eliminated from postseason contention, he may be shut down for the year. Conversely, if the team remains in the playoff hunt, Cincinnati could look to safely bring him back to the field.

What is Joe Burrow's injury?

Burrow sustained a Grade 3 turf toe injury that required surgery.

A Grade 3 turf toe is the most severe form, meaning the soft tissues in the toe are completely torn and the joint may be dislocated. The injury causes severe pain and limited mobility.

Burrow suffered the injury when he was sacked in the second quarter of Cincinnati’s Week 2 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Grade 3 turf toe typically occurs when a toe hyperextends, which appears to have happened on that play.

MORE: Explaining meaning, grades, recovery time and more about turf toe in the NFL

Turf toe recovery timeline in NFL

In the NFL, the timeline to recover from turf toe depends on the severity of the injury.

Grade 3 turf toe injuries take two to six months to heal. In Burrow's case, a three-month timeline was given after he underwent surgery to repair the injury.

Bengals schedule 2025

The Bengals are 2-0 in the games Burrow started, but lost four consecutive games following the injury.

Here are the remaining games on Cincinnati's schedule:

Week	Date	Opponent	Time (ET)	TV channel
7	Oct. 16	vs. Steelers	8:15 p.m.	Amazon Prime Video
8	Oct. 26	vs. Jets	1 p.m.	CBS, Fubo, Paramount+
9	Nov. 2	vs. Bears	1 p.m.	CBS, Fubo, Paramount+
10	Nov. 9	BYE	—	—
11	Nov. 16	at Steelers	1 p.m.	CBS, Fubo, Paramount+
12	Nov. 23	vs. Patriots	1 p.m.	CBS, Fubo, Paramount+
13	Nov. 27	at Ravens	8:20 p.m.	NBC, Fubo,
14	Dec. 7	at Bills	4:25 p.m.	Fox, Fubo
15	Dec. 14	vs. Ravens	1 p.m.	CBS, Fubo, Paramount+
16	Dec. 21	at Dolphins	8:20 p.m.	NBC, Fubo
17	TBD	vs. Cardinals	TBD	TBD
18	TBD	vs. Browns	TBD	TBD

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