Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will undergo toe surgery and miss at least three months, thrusting Jake Browning into the starting role as Cincinnati searches for QB depth. With no active backup on the roster and Brett Rypien on the practice squad, the team is weighing free-agent options. Browning’s late-game TD heroics hint at upside, but fantasy expectations hinge on line play and play-calling while Burrow recovers.

Historically fragile at the position, Burrow’s absence coincides with a Bengals offense that has been under 20 PPG in recent Burrow-less stretches. The schedule and supporting cast will dictate Browning’s fantasy viability, making this a pivotal period for Bengals pass-catchers and for bettors tracking upside in a shortened window.

Burrow is out for the majority of 2025 after toe surgery, forcing Cincinnati to lean on Jake Browning as the presumed starter. Browning’s 2023 stint showed a 12 TD, 7 INT line with a 70.4% completion rate, while 2024 offered little action. Cincinnati will scout free agents and keep Brett Rypien as a fallback. The Bengals started 2-0, but the offense faces a hit without Burrow’s elite accuracy and volume—creating real early-season fantasy volatility that Browning must navigate.

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.