The NFL is back, but Burrow is bruised and battered. Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals acquired a grade-three turf toe sprain on September 14th against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Brock Purdy, 49ers quarterback, suffered a similar injury the week before. He also accumulated a left shoulder issue. Yet another crucial quarterback, Justin Fields, got a concussion during Week 2. Common theme? Quarterbacks.
Another recurring pattern is turf toe. Turf toe is a sprain of the largest joint of the big toe. It occurs when the toe hyperextends. A grade one sprain may be mildly swollen. Grade two will hit you with swelling and bruising. A grade three turf toe is characterized by the soft tissues in your toe being completely torn. Swelling and pain are severe, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Burrow was an unlucky player to get nerfed with grade three. He was placed on injured reserve on the 16th of September. He is expected to miss three months following surgery to repair his toe. The Bengals’ backup is Jake Browning. While Browning did step up in 2023 when Burrow was out with a wrist injury, amassing a 4-3 record in seven games, the Bengals coach commented to ESPN reporters, “We’ve all got to push him to [be] better, push us to be better and just execute.” Burrow is expected to return in mid-December if his toe heals correctly. Cincinnati plans to welcome him back with a playoff-contending team, courtesy of Browning.
Let’s rewind to Week 1. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers quarterback, acquired a dangerous duo on the 7th: turf toe AND a shoulder injury. His left shoulder – non-throwing arm – has been bugging him since. The more significant issue was his toe, the reason he did not suit up against the New Orleans Saints, according to ESPN reporter Nick Wagoner. Purdy is expected to be back for Week 4. Mac Jones swooped in to steal the game against the Saints, throwing for 279 yards and scoring three touchdowns. Purdy did not serve as Jones’ backup against the Cardinals on Sunday, which some fans anticipated.
Four out of five quarterbacks suffered from a lower-body injury during Weeks 1 and 2. The lucky player, or unlucky depending on your perspective, is Justin Fields: Jets quarterback. He got a concussion while playing against the Buffalo Bills on September 14th. He is ruled out for the Sunday game versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tyrod Taylor will start instead. Jets coach Aaron Glenn added, “There’s no better player that you’d want as your backup quarterback than him at this point in time.” It is undetermined when Fields will return, but based on coach and team statements, I would assume a comeback around Week 4 or 5.
J.J. McCarthy of the Vikings has an expected comeback around Weeks 5-7. He sustained a high right ankle sprain in the late third against the Atlanta Falcons. Carson Wentz is the Vikings backup quarterback. He has a good amount of experience, playing for six teams in 10 seasons. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell spoke highly about Wentz to ESPN reporter Kevin Seifert, conveying confidence in his ability to play if necessary.
The Washington Commanders quarterback, Jayden Daniels, sustained a left knee sprain on September 12th while facing the Green Bay Packers. His status is labeled questionable, explaining why he didn’t take the field against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Marcus Mariota took Daniels’ place, managing a 41-24 win over Las Vegas. Mariota has a history in the NFL, being drafted second overall by the Tennessee Titans in 2015. Hopefully, he can execute it until Daniels returns.
These injuries shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, from 2021 to 2024, just concussions attained in regular season games and practices averaged 148.75, not even including preseason games. The NFL released concussion injury data since 2015 in a report from this January. As Fantasy Football heads into Week 4, many are anticipating the safe return of Daniels, Fields, and Purdy. Burrow fans and McCarthy fans will yearn in the long run.
