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 |
Broncos best option to start alongside Dre Greenlaw is painfully obvious
The Denver Broncos announced that they have designated inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw to return from the Injured Reserve list, where he has been since Week 3 due to a quad injury. Broncos Country finally got the injury update they have been waiting for. One of their top free-agent acquisitions is closer to making his debut in orange and blue. Will it be on Sunday against the Giants? We do not know, but the good news is that he is back in practice and did not have any setbacks.
One of Denver's top priorities heading into the offseason was the inside linebacker position. They addressed it in free agency by signing former 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw to a 3-year, $34 million deal. Greenlaw is a force in the middle of the defense when healthy. In 64 games over six years with San Francisco, he recorded 455 tackles, 3 interceptions, 14 pass breakups, 3.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. Greenlaw is an experienced linebacker who will bring a lot of energy to this young Broncos defense led by Vance Joseph. It's a significant upgrade when he's on the field compared to what the team has had recently.
Dre Greenlaw's return leads to a big and very important question...Who starts alongside him?
Broncos' best option to start alongside Dre Greenlaw is Justin Strnad
Greenlaw, when healthy, is a monster. He should be an instant starter at the inside linebacker position. Now the big question is who starts alongside him. My answer would be Cody Barton, but he left Denver in free agency and signed a one-year deal with the Tennessee Titans. This leads to veterans Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad (the actual starting tandem).
Singleton is an experienced veteran who is very liked inside Denver's locker room. He is a team captain and currently leads the Broncos in tackles with 51. The concern with Singleton is that he is getting older and is coming back from a Torn ACL suffered in Week 3 of the 2024-25 season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Despite leading the team in tackles, Singleton looks slow, which makes sense following that injury, and has been burnt by opposing players, noting significantly Saquon Barkley's touchdown in week 5 on a wheel route. Singleton has missed lots of tackles.
On the other hand, there is Justin Strnad, who, believe it or not, has been one of the team's breakout players so far in the 2025-26 season. He currently has 3.5 sacks, 3 tackles for loss, and one pass breakup. He is a solid inside linebacker who, in the past, was a solid special teams player at best, and now, in my opinion, he is the one who should start alongside Dre Greenlaw. Strnad is a more dynamic and faster player compared to Singleton. I would not be surprised if Denver tries to trade Singleton, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the season.
Denver has Drew Sanders, who is currently injured, and also has Levelle Bailey and Karene Reid.
