Zac Taylor Shares Optimistic Health Update on Bengals Star Joe Burrow
Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow remains on injured reserve after undergoing surgery on his left big toe last month. He suffered a grade 3 toe sprain against the Jaguars in Week 2.
Burrow's in the middle of the recovery process. Head coach Zac Taylor shared an update on the 28-year-old quarterback on Wednesday.
"He’s been good. I don’t have any updates [on the progress]. It’s gone as we had hoped," Taylor said. "He’s had a great attitude, great energy about him. He’s in the meetings, met with him one-on-one, he’s been great to be around, optimistic and things have been going well, but I don’t have any update on the timeline."
The optimistic timeline would have Burrow healthy and ready to return to the field in December.
Sideline Joe
Burrow returned to the sideline in Week 7 with a boot. He shed the boot for normal athletic shoes during Sunday's 39-38 loss to the Jets.
The Bengals lost four-straight games with Burrow injured. Trading for Joe Flacco has given them some renewed home, but their Week 8 loss to the Jets has halted momentum.
Cincinnati is 1-5 this season with Burrow sidelined.
"I can tell his mood when he's overly happy. When he's overly happy, I can 100% see that," Ja'Marr Chase said last week. "Other than that ... well, when he's pissed. I for sure know that one. He cursed me out a couple of times, so I know when he's pissed too."
"He's working pretty hard for the majority of the times that I've seen him in a training room working," Chase added. "I try to walk in there, give him a couple of laughs. So, you know, make his day a little better, but he's working."
This is the third time in six seasons Burrow has dealt with a possible season-ending injury. The Bengals are optimistic he'll return this season, but that wouldn't make much sense if they aren't in the playoff hunt.
Check out video of Burrow on the sideline below:
Colts Rookie Benched for Disciplinary Violation — Hasn’t Played a Single Snap After Shane Steichen’s Tough Message on Standards
The Indianapolis Colts’ seventh-round rookie wide receiver has yet to see the field this season — and head coach Shane Steichen just made it clear why.
Despite impressing during offseason workouts with his speed and versatility, the young wideout has remained on the practice squad since Week 1, with Steichen citing discipline and execution as the main reasons behind the decision.
“HE'S GOT THE TALENT, NO QUESTION. BUT IN INDIANAPOLIS, EXECUTION IS EVERYTHING. HE MISSED READS, BLEW ASSIGNMENTS, AND DIDN'T MASTER THE DETAILS. AROUND HERE, YOU DON'T EARN SNAPS WITH POTENTIAL — YOU EARN THEM BY PLAYING THE COLTS WAY.”
The rookie in question is Junior Bergen, a seventh-round pick (No. 252 overall) from Montana, who signed a four-year rookie contract shortly after the 2025 NFL Draft. Bergen flashed promise as a slot receiver and return specialist during training camp, drawing early comparisons to former Colts gadget players known for their versatility and intelligence.
However, insiders from the team’s practice sessions revealed that Bergen struggled to learn route progressions, execute assignments precisely, and adjust to the pace and complexity of Steichen’s offense — a system renowned for demanding timing, precision, and mental sharpness.
The Colts waived Bergen on August 26, 2025, only to re-sign him to the practice squad the following day — a move Steichen described as part of the development process rather than a punishment.
“He’s learning,” Steichen said. “But at this level, talent isn’t enough. You have to prove every day that you understand your job and that your teammates can trust you to execute it.”
Bergen has since worked closely with receivers coach Reggie Wayne, focusing on improving his route discipline and timing. Despite being benched from active play, team sources say the 23-year-old has shown steady progress and remains a long-term project for the Colts’ offense.
Still, Steichen’s message was unmistakable: in Indianapolis, consistency and preparation are non-negotiable. “This organization is built on accountability,” he said. “Every player here — whether it’s a Pro Bowler or a rookie — is expected to uphold that standard. Until you do, you sit.”
For Junior Bergen, the lesson is clear. The path back to the field won’t come from talent alone — it will come from mastering the details and earning the right to play the
