Joe Burrow Exits With Toe Injury as Jake Browning Leads Bengals to Last-Second Win Over Jaguars
Burrow left in the second quarter after a sack; backup Browning engineered a 92-yard, 15-play game-winning drive in Cincinnati’s 31-27 victory
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow exited Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a toe injury in the second quarter, and backup Jake Browning led a last-minute comeback to give the Bengals a 31-27 victory at Paycor Stadium.
Burrow was knocked down and sacked by Jacksonville’s Arik Armstead in the second quarter, then slammed his helmet and remained on the turf before hopping to his feet but appearing unable to put weight on the affected foot. He was helped off the field and was later seen walking into the locker room with assistance. Burrow completed 7 of 13 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown to Ja’Marr Chase before leaving the game.
With Burrow out, Browning took over after a Bengals defensive interception of Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and drove the offense late in the fourth quarter. Browning engineered a 92-yard, 15-play drive that he capped with a one-yard touchdown run to take a 31-27 lead with 18 seconds remaining. The Jaguars were unable to score in the final seconds, and Cincinnati improved to 2-0 on the season while Jacksonville fell to 1-1.
Browning’s day was a mixed performance. He threw three interceptions but also connected on two touchdown passes to Mitchell Tinsley and Tee Higgins in addition to the game-winning rushing score. Ja’Marr Chase finished with 14 receptions for 165 yards and a touchdown, providing a key target during Browning’s late-game drive.
The Bengals’ offensive line had struggled to contain Jacksonville’s pass rush throughout the game, forcing Burrow to move around the pocket. The pressure led to the sack that produced the injury. Defensive plays also shaped the contest; Cincinnati forced a turnover on downs near its goal line in the fourth quarter, setting the stage for Browning’s final drive.
Trevor Lawrence had an up-and-down performance for Jacksonville, which could not convert in the closing seconds. The Jaguars generated enough pressure and impact plays earlier to lead 17-10 at halftime, but Cincinnati rallied in the second half despite the loss of its starting quarterback.
The Bengals will undergo further evaluation of Burrow’s injury in the coming days. Burrow, the NFL’s reigning Comeback Player of the Year, will be re-examined by team medical staff as Cincinnati prepares for its next game. The club offered no immediate timetable for his return.
Cincinnati’s ability to rally without its veteran starter provided a critical early-season road test for the roster depth and underscored the importance of Chase’s large receiving day. The team’s offensive line issues and Burrow’s injury will be focal points for the coaching staff and medical personnel as the Bengals look ahead in a competitive AFC North and seek to protect the health of their franchise quarterback.