AFC North And Steelers See Unexpected Season-Changing Injury Occur In Cincinnati

The Pittsburgh Steelers disappointed the fan base mightily on Sunday when they lost 31-17 to the Seattle Seahawks. The Steelers' defense didn’t redeem itself, and despite forcing Sam Darnold into two interceptions, it still allowed 395 yards of offense. The unit looked disorganized at times and failed to get timely stops when the team needed them most. With the defeat, the Steelers fell to 1-1 on the 2025 season and will now turn their attention to Week 3 against the New England Patriots on the road, a critical matchup early in the year.

While the Steelers were battling against Seattle at Acrisure Stadium, the AFC North received shocking, season-altering news out of Cincinnati. Bengals superstar quarterback Joe Burrow was forced to leave his game with an injury that looked serious from the start. Later on Sunday afternoon, it was revealed that Burrow could miss up to three months, a devastating blow to the Bengals and the entire division race. ESPN’s Adam Schefter added another layer to the report, noting that the injury might even require surgery, which could drastically reshape the AFC landscape.

For the Steelers, Burrow’s absence will have a direct impact on their schedule. Pittsburgh is set to play the Bengals in Week 7 on October 16, and all signs point to Burrow being unavailable for that matchup. That could provide the Steelers with a critical opportunity to pick up a divisional win on the road, but it also raises questions about how the AFC North will shake out without its (arguably) top quarterback. With Baltimore, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh all eyeing playoff pushes, the next few weeks will show which team can capitalize on the Bengals’ misfortune.

"Images of the injury to Burrow's left toe, which he suffered in the second quarter of Sunday's 31-27 home win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, are being sent to noted foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson to be reviewed, sources told Schefter. If surgery is deemed necessary, it is expected to sideline Burrow for approximately three months."

This is devastating news, and no fan wants to see any player sidelined with an injury. It’s especially tough when it involves a superstar quarterback so early in the season. Steeler Nation was looking forward to matching up against Burrow, and while he will likely miss that contest in Week 7. They are also set to play them again in Week 11 on November 16 in Pittsburgh. Early reports from Schefter and medical experts suggest that Burrow could potentially miss that game as well, leaving the Steelers with a unique opportunity in both matchups.

Football fans will be wishing Burrow a speedy recovery as he works his way back. For now, it appears that Jake Browning will step in as the Bengals’ quarterback while Burrow is sidelined. Burrow left the game with 8:36 remaining in the second quarter after Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Arik Armstead brought him down on a sack.

Steelers Have Seen Bengals' Jake Browning Before

In Burrow’s absence, Browning went 21-of-32 for 241 passing yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw three interceptions. While losing Burrow is a significant blow for the Bengals, this is the nature of the NFL. Unfortunately, every team will face its share of injuries, and it’s a “next man up” league where backups must rise to the occasion. 

Browning has a career passer rating of 79.4 against the Steelers, with 562 yards, two touchdowns, and four interceptions in two games. He has lost both starts against Pittsburgh, both coming during the 2023 season. The AFC North is brutal and avoiding playing Burrow would make it a little easier.

How do you think the Bengals will hold up with Joe Burrow expected to miss some time? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me.

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