How we feeling...?

[Bengals1]

Paul Dehner Jr. @pauldehnerjr
Confirmation of what was feared: Burrow will need surgery on his toe injury. Three months is the optimistic timeline here.

Surgery on turf toe is almost unprecedented for a QB in this league (just as his wrist injury was almost unprecedented for a QB at this level). Makes predicting return to play timeline challenging.


Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter
Bengals pass pro ranks since drafting Joe Burrow (pass block win rate, per ESPN research):

2020 (29th)
2021 (30th)
2022 (30th)
2023 (27th)
2024 (32nd)
2025 (28th)

Burrow has not played behind an offensive line that didn't rank in the bottom quartile.

[Bengals1]

Paul Dehner Jr. @pauldehnerjr
There is a path to winning games with Jake Browning.

The #Bengals staff will re-calibrate the offense to more of what fits Browning and the weapons they still have.

They did this notably well in 2023. The offense won't reach the levels Burrow can take it, but it can certainly be solid, as Browning showed yesterday.

I mean, they still have Ja'Marr, Tee, Chase Brown, etc.

There's just a definitive ceiling. They have to become a much more complete team than they look to be right now.

And what happens when those pieces inevitably aren't all there. So much relies on Burrow to cover up when other pieces start to fall off. They'll need a significant amount of (good) luck to keep the train on the tracks, no question.

[TheBurn]

Matt @CoachMinich

The path:

Beat Lions at home
Steal a road win against Vikings, Broncos, or Packers
Split with Steelers
Beat Jets and Bears

7-6 with 4 weeks to go (Ravens, Cardinals, Dolphins, Browns)

11:54 AM · Sep 15, 2025 · 27 Views

[Joe Bananas]

Like I said last night. Being a Bengals fan for 40 years im sorta numb to things that would make another fan/fan base melt down.

Burrow....uhmmm. ... love him but the guy needs to stay healthy. Hes definitely injury prone. And I cant help but wonder would Big Ben, Mahomes, Allen and others playb through this...? Hey! Honest question! I freaking hate the steelers much like we all do but Ben played through alot and honesty earned my respect early in his career. I think with injuries to Burrow the team throws in the towel too early but hey thats just me.

How we feeling? I can see us winning 7-8 games....maybe 9 with some luck - but we did that last year so again- I'm not numb to dumb shit like this.

Hope forward great draft pick...I mean...what else do we do? Mikey not gonna trade for a Qb! Not gonna sign one!

[Joe Bananas]

Battles brother on X

JALEN BATTLE

They lying to y’all, that’s all I will say‍🥺

Lol ima just say this, don’t expect Joe to be back this season.

----------

exactly what I said. Joe ain't coming back this year. Bank it!

[orange_black]

i looked through the schedule.... assuming a mid-december return for joe..... I could see a pathway to anywhere between 9-11 wins.... but browning has GOT to hold down the fort till Joe gets back.

[skycruiser]

Another wasted year. The story of our lives

[Bengals1]

I'm with JoeB on this one. Its hard for me to get too upset anymore. I long ago divested myself of any really deep emotional bonds with the team I might have once had.

If the Bengals do well....great.

If they fall on their faces....m'eh.

I came to the realization some time ago this is a cursed organization. And if you think things are going to substantially change when SoP passes on you're delusional.

Katie and her husband are chips off the ole' block. I don't expect anything to change in the foreseeable future. Probably not in my lifetime. (Certainly not in Stripes lifetime )

So yesterday's events don't faze me much. Its just par for the Bungles course....

[4256 Hits]

I am rather indifferent also. I expected the D to suck too bad for them to win much this year anyway. But overall sports have become a much smaller part of my life so it is easier to just move on.

[TheBurn]

Charlie Clifford @char_cliff

Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy (ankle) is likely out against the Bengals Sunday.
A battle of the backups in Minnesota.

2:49 PM · Sep 15, 2025 · 7,318 Views

and apparently Aaron Jones could be out too...