Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will undergo toe surgery and miss at least three months, with a December 14 return possible if healing holds. Jake Browning steps in as the starter while Cincinnati surveys free-agent options behind him. Cincinnati sits 2-0 in the AFC North, but the absence shifts offensive expectations and betting lines as they head to Minnesota.

The team is navigating the top-level shift without its quarterback, aiming to hold the division lead as Browning gains real game reps and the organization weighs emergency depth. The scenario sets up a critical test for the Bengals’ offense and fantasy managers alike as December looms.

Joe Burrow is sidelined for three months after turf toe surgery, forcing the Bengals to navigate the season without their star QB. With Burrow, Cincinnati averaged 25.3 points per game; without him the offense slides to 19.9 PPG, a drop that tightens the fantasy ceiling and complicates betting angles as a December return looms. Baltimore's late-season schedule against Cincinnati adds AFC North drama and late-year pivot points for rosters and line moves.