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Cincinnati Bengals News & Rumors

Bengals QB Joe Burrow Undergoes Surgery

September 19th, 2025 at 11:58am CST by Adam La Rose

SETPEMBER 19: Burrow did indeed undergo surgery today, head coach Zac Taylor said (via ESPN’s Ben Baby). He added the procedure went well and noted there is no firm timeline in place for Burrow’s recovery process.

SEPTEMBER 18: Joe Burrow‘s turf toe will leave the Bengals without their starting quarterback for the foreseeable future. His recovery process could begin shortly.

Burrow is currently scheduled to undergo surgery tomorrow, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The timing of the procedure will depend on the swelling in Burrow’s injured toe, and it could be pushed back a few days if needed. In any case, Dr. Norman Waldrop will perform the surgery, per Rapoport.

Dr. Waldrop has worked under renowned surgeon Dr. Robert Anderson, and he has experience with a number of high-profile procedures. This Burrow one will add to that list, and a recovery period of at least three months is in store. As such, Jake Browning will be tasked with leading Cincinnati’s offense through the bulk of the campaign as the team looks to build off a 2-0 start to the year.

Expectations for the team in 2025 have understandably taken a major hit in the wake of Burrow’s injury, though. The former No. 1 pick has now suffered three major ailments in his six-year NFL career, and the timing of his latest one could leave him unavailable for the rest of the season depending on the timing of the procedure and his recovery process. Burrow, 28, is attached to his $55MM-per-year extension through 2029 so a cautious approach regarding his return should be expected.

In the meantime, Browning and Brett Rypien will handle QB duties on the active roster. Rypien was recently promoted to the 53-man roster with Mike White and Sean Clifford being added to the practice squad. Those four passers will handle their respective roles while Burrow rehabs his toe. Provided his surgery goes as planned, the countdown to when he will once again be available to Cincinnati will begin.

WR Mohamed Sanu Retires

September 19th, 2025 at 8:54am CST by Adam La Rose

Mohamed Sanu‘s playing days have officially come to an end. The veteran receiver announced on Friday that he has retired.

“After 10+ years in the NFL, my playing chapter is closing,” Sanu wrote on X. “Grateful for every coach, teammate & fan. Excited to give back through coaching & share the game in a new way with the Facts Over Stats podcast. The Journey continues.”

Sanu last played a regular season game in 2021, and he very briefly spent time with the Dolphins the following summer. Given the time which has elapsed since, today’s announcement is certainly an unexpected one. Nevertheless, it marks an end to the 36-year-old’s career as a player.

Selected in third round of the 2012 draft, Sanu played out his rookie contract with the Bengals. He established himself as a starting-caliber receiver during that period, something which remained the case during his Falcons tenure (2016-19). In the 2018 campaign, Sanu set a new personal mark with 838 receiving yards; that season also marked the only time one of his eight career pass attempts (four of which resulted in a touchdown) fell incomplete.

After a midseason trade saw him finish the year with the Patriots, the Rutgers product split his time between the 49ers and Lions the following campaign. Sanu saw a downturn in usage and production during that span, and he remained a part-time contributor upon returning to San Francisco for 2021. After being released by the Dolphins in August of 2022, no known visits took place and no further playing opportunities presented themselves.

Multiple years removed from his final playing action in the NFL, Sanu will now officially turn his attention to other pursuits. In all, he played 145 combined regular and postseason games and amassed nearly $32MM in career earnings.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/16/25

September 16th, 2025 at 7:42pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

  • Signed: LB Malik Hamm

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

Washington Commanders

  • Signed: G Tyler Cooper, WR Tay Martin
  • Placed on IR: G Darrian Dalcourt

The Steelers added a notable wide receiver to their taxi squad in Isaiah Hodgins. The wideout bounced between the Giants practice squad and active roster in 2024, but he’s not far removed from a stretch between 2022 and 2023 when he hauled in 58 catches for 622 yards and seven touchdowns. He’ll be joining a group of practice squad WRs that includes Rakim Jarrett and rookie Ke’Shawn Williams.

Speaking of the Giants, they added a veteran linebacker in Neville Hewitt. The 32-year-old has appeared in 146 games in time with the Dolphins, Jets, and Texans. His best season came with New York in 2020, when he compiled 134 tackles and a pair of sacks. He mostly saw a special teams role while in Houston, but he rebounded in 2024, tallying 59 tackles and a pair of forced fumbles in 17 games (four starts).

NFL Minor Transactions: 9/16/25

September 16th, 2025 at 7:10pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

  • Signed: LB Maema Njongmeta (off Bengals practice squad), C Nick Samac (off Ravens practice squad)

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Rams

New York Giants

Bengals’ Joe Burrow To Undergo Toe Surgery

September 16th, 2025 at 6:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

TODAY, 6:15pm: The Bengals have officially placed Burrow on injured reserve.

MONDAY, 8:00am: Joe Burrow‘s turf toe led to overnight concerns about surgery being necessary. The Bengals passer will indeed take that route, meaning a lengthy absence is in store.

Burrow is set to undergo surgery on his injured toe, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Multiple opinions were sought out before this decision was made, but Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds there was a consensus amongst the experts consulted. An absence of at least three months is expected while Burrow recovers.

Midway through the Bengals’ Week 2 game, Burrow injured his toe while being sacked. The two-time Pro Bowler was later seen on crutches and in a walking boot, creating the possibility of a long-term spell on the shelf. Burrow has a history of injuries throughout his Bengals career, and today’s news confirms his track record in that regard will expand.

The 28-year-old is in danger of missing most of the season’s remainder, if not the rest of the campaign in its entirety. As a result, Cincinnati’s outlook for 2025 has been dealt a blow. The team is 2-0 following Sunday’s comeback win over Jacksonville, but backup Jake Browning will now be counted on to lead the way on offense. The Bengals’ defense faced questions entering the season – even with Trey Hendrickson‘s hold-in being ended via a raise covering 2025 – but that unit will be required to deliver strong performances on a consistent basis moving forward.

Burrow, 28, has won the Comeback Player of the Year award twice (2021, 2024) as a sign of his ability to perform among the league’s best when healthy. He led the NFL in passing yards (4,918) and touchdowns (43) last year, and expectations remained high for Cincinnati’s offense with wideouts Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins signing joint extensions this spring. Their futures are in place beyond 2025, and Burrow is on the books through 2029.

In the immediate term, though, attention will turn to Browning and his ability to guide the Bengals on offense. The former UDFA made his 13th regular season appearance yesterday, each of which have come with Cincinnati. Browning went 21-of-32 for 241 yards and a pair of touchdowns (while also rushing for the game-winning score). He did throw three interceptions, however, so ball protection will be a priority over the coming games. During a seven-game span filling in for Burrow in 2023, Browning compiled a 4-3 record and a 12:7 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

Browning is currently the only healthy passer on the Bengals’ active roster. Brett Rypien is in place on the practice squad, so it would be feasible for him to be promoted in the near future. Logan Woodside was with the Bengals early this offseason before being cut in July. That move came about after Desmond Ridder was signed, although the former Falcon and Raider was among the team’s final roster cuts.

To no surprise, Schefter adds the Bengals are making contact with free agent quarterbacks knowing Burrow will be sidelined for an extended period. Ridder is on the market, and he could be a (somewhat) familiar face for the organization regarding an in-season addition. With over $12MM in cap space, Cincinnati could afford a low-cost addition under center. With Ridder or another passer in place to back up Browning, however, the team’s chances of reaching the playoffs will be decidedly lowered. Burrow, meanwhile, now faces another lengthy recovery outlook.

Bengals To Promote QB Brett Rypien

September 16th, 2025 at 1:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Bengals have a pair of new passers on the practice squad. Brett Rypien is, to no surprise, now in position to handle backup duties behind Jake Browning.

Rypien is being promoted from the taxi squad to Cincinnati’s active roster, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Browning is set to handle starting duties while Joe Burrow recovers from toe surgery. Rypien will now take on QB2 responsibilities with Mike White and Sean Clifford on the practice squad.

Rypien has 10 regular season appearances and four starts to his name at the NFL level. The 29-year-old saw time with the Broncos for three seasons before spending last year with the Rams. Rypien inked a futures contract with the Vikings in January, setting him up to spend the offseason in Minnesota. Shortly before the campaign, however, the team made a number of QB moves.

That included the decision to trade away Sam Howell and sign Carson Wentz for the backup gig. Shortly after that took place, Rypien was released. The Boise State product had a short-lived stint on the open market, quickly signing with the Bengals on their practice squad. Burrow’s latest injury has now opened to door to a stint on Cincinnati’s active roster.

The Bengals sit at 2-0 to begin the year. The team’s offense is of course in danger of seeing a downturn in production without Burrow, however. While Browning prepares to take on the starting gig for the foreseeable future, Rypien will serve as the next passer in line.

Bengals To Sign Mike White, Sean Clifford

September 16th, 2025 at 8:41am CST by Adam La Rose

In need of quarterback depth, the Bengals have moved quickly in finding a pair of additions. Mike White and Sean Clifford are heading to Cincinnati.

Both players have agreed to a deal, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. To no surprise, these will be practice squad arrangements in each case. White and Clifford’s addition come one day after it was confirmed Joe Burrow will require toe surgery. The Bengals will thus be without their starter for at least three months.

In the wake of that news, head coach Zac Taylor said the team would be active in seeking out a free agent signal-caller. Jake Browning is in position (once again) to fill in for an injured Burrow. Brett Rypien found himself on the Bengals’ practice squad for Week 2, but he is a candidate to be promoted to the active roster with Burrow sidelined. He, alongside White and Clifford, will now compete for the QB2 role.

White has made 15 appearances and seven starts in his career. His first ever start took place against the Bengals in 2021, and it was part of a four-year run within the AFC East. The former fifth-rounder was with the Jets for 2021 and ’22, and he followed that up with single campaigns in Miami and Buffalo. White was among the Bills’ roster cuts this summer, leaving him on the open market through the beginning of the campaign.

The 49ers hosted the 30-year-old last week in the wake of Brock Purdy‘s injury. No deal was worked out in that instance, but the opposite has proven to be true in the case of the Bengals. White and Clifford will be eligible for a gameday elevation as early as Week 3 (presuming neither of them are promoted to the active roster in the coming days).

Clifford, a Packers fifth-rounder in 2023, made a pair of appearances during his rookie season. He remained in place last year but did not see the field. This summer, the Penn State product was waived during roster cuts. Clifford went unclaimed and thus became a free agent in time for the start of the season. After not being linked to any suitors in September, he has now landed an opportunity with the Bengals.

Cincinnati sits at 2-0, but the loss of Burrow will deal a blow to the team’s chances of remaining among the AFC’s top contenders as the season progresses. Browning will play a key role in guiding the offense for the foreseeable future, but it will be interesting to see how the Bengals’ backup competition shakes out.

Long Absence Feared For Bengals’ Joe Burrow

September 14th, 2025 at 11:04pm CST by Ely Allen

Updates continue to pour in on the toe injury suffered by Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow. The toe injury was confirmed to be turf toe with speculation that several weeks could be up in the air for the sixth-year passer. At this point, each update seems to paint a darker picture.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to provide new information, reporting that images of the 28-year-old quarterback’s turf toe injury were “being sent to noted foot specialist” Dr. Robert Anderson to be reviewed. Schefter noted that, should surgery be necessary, a three-month absence would be expected for Burrow, who was seen in a walking boot and on crutches after leaving today’s game. Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports was the next to add on that Burrow is undergoing additional tests and that Cincinnati expects to have full details Monday.

NFL Network’s duo of Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero closely followed with the specifics that Burrow “is feared to have suffered a Grade 3 turf toe injury,” that the injury was severe with torn ligaments, and that it would likely require surgery, keeping in line with Schefter’s three-month timeline.

Local beat reporter Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer noted that, with Grade 3 turf toe injuries often estimated with two- to six-month recovery timelines, Burrow’s situation is brutal but not the worst-case scenario.

In line with that thinking, Rapoport points out that three months from now is December 14. That date coincides with the Bengals’ Week 15 game against the Ravens. If backup quarterback Jake Browning can keep Cincinnati anywhere near the playoff chase in Burrow’s absence, Burrow may be able to return in time to play three or four games to get back into potential playoff shape. That would require a lot of things to go incredibly right for the Bengals, but all hope may not be lost.

Browning has been with the team since 2021, winning the primary backup job — and, with it, a spot on the 53-man roster — in 2023. That year, unfortunately, saw Burrow go down with a season-ending wrist injury, and Browning came in to finish out the season. After a 5-5 start with Burrow under center, the Bengals finished 4-3 over their last seven games of the season as Browning led them to a 9-8 final record. Browning proved to be a reliable backup in that stretch of games, completing 70.4 percent of his passes for 12 touchdowns.

Browning will be tested immediately as the Bengals embark on a five-game stretch of 2024 playoff teams with the Vikings, Broncos, Lions, Packers, and Steelers immediately on the horizon. If Browning and his arsenal of offensive weapons can keep the team above water, there’s a chance he may be able to hand the keys back to Burrow in time for a potential playoff run. That’s what the Bengals will be focusing on if they receive bad news tomorrow.

Bengals’ Joe Burrow Diagnosed With Turf Toe

September 14th, 2025 at 6:09pm CST by Adam La Rose

6:09 PM: Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Burrow has been diagnosed with turf toe. What this means for his availability to play will depend on the severity of the injury. Minor sprains can be overcome in just a few days’ time, while more serious sprains can require multiple weeks of recovery and even worse iterations can require surgery and a recovery timeline measured by months.

Rapoport cites Jeremy Rauch of FOX19 who in turn cites a source that claimed the injury is believed to involve torn ligaments, which could mean an absence of “several weeks” for Cincinnati’s QB1. The Bengals are the only NFL team with an MRI machine in their stadium, so they should have a good idea of his outlook, but they haven’t revealed much to the media at this point in time.

3:09 PM: The Bengals’ efforts to improve to 2-0 have hit a notable roadblock. Quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a toe injury midway through the second quarter of today’s game against the Jaguars.

The injury occurred while Burrow was attempting to avoid pressure. The play resulted in a sack, and after receiving medical attention he walked off the field. Burrow was initially listed as questionable to return, but he has since officially been ruled out.

Burrow underwent an MRI shortly after suffering the injury. Once it was completed, the 28-year-old was seen using a scooter to return to the locker room with his left leg elevated (h/t FOX19’s Joe Danneman). Needless to say, further testing and updates will be critical in this situation over the coming days.

Throughout his decorated career, injuries have been a concern for Burrow. The former No. 1 pick suffered an ACL tear during his rookie season; he has also missed time due to a calf strain and a ruptured ligament in his wrist last season. During the Bengals’ Super Bowl loss, Burrow suffered an MCL sprain. If this latest ailment leads to more missed games, Cincinnati’s offense will be notably shorthanded.

The Bengals made an effort to buck the trend of slow starts early in regular seasons by playing Burrow and other key players during the preseason. That did not result in a productive outing in Week 1, although Cincinnati emerged with a one-point victory over Cleveland. Prior to going down today, Burrow completed seven of 13 pass attempts for 76 yards and one touchdown.

Backup Jake Browning has taken over under center. The 29-year-old made nine appearances and seven starts last season, completing a league-best 70.4% of his pass attempts. Browning has been in the organization since 2021, and he inked a two-year deal last spring. As a pending free agent, his performances will be key in determining his value on the open market (if he reaches it). Depending on Burrow’s outlook, Browning may be needed beyond the closing stages of today’s game.

NFL Minor Transactions: 9/10/25

September 10th, 2025 at 7:54pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s mid-week minor NFL transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Blount will reportedly be on injured reserve for the remainder of the season after Sunday’s neck injury. After colliding with a ball carrier at the same time as rookie linebacker Cody Simon, who suffered a concussion, Blount was seen in a neck brace after the game.

After Jets head coach Aaron Glenn told reporters that “players who made costly mistakes would not stay on the field,” per Brian Costello of the New York Post, Gipson has been waived from the team. In a close loss to the Steelers, Gipson coughed up a costly fumble. Williams will come up from Cincinnati, and his experience as a return man may hint at how New York might address the loss of Gipson.

The Steelers see two key backups hit injured reserve as they make room for Jabrill Peppers and Pierre. Harrison followed Patrick Queen this offseason as the second linebacker to make the move from rival Baltimore in as many seasons, but he didn’t have an established role on the Steelers defense yet. Thompson joins rookie sixth-round pick Will Howard on IR. Practice squad passer Logan Woodside now stands as QB3 behind Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph.

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