Broncos catch a break for Week 4 clash against Bengals

The Denver Broncos are going to need all the breaks they can get if they want to make a deep playoff run this season, especially now after a crucial penalty didn’t go their way in Sunday’s 29-28 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. While the most important call of that game didn’t go their way, they caught a crucial break just over 100 miles away.

The Cincinnati Bengals lost their quarterback, Joe Burrow, midway through their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Burrow was limping around after going down on a sack, and something that looked like it might not have been the worst quickly turned to a nightmare for that team.

ESPN sources: Bengals QB Joe Burrow will need toe surgery that will sideline him a minimum of three months. pic.twitter.com/g8AiFectwX

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 15, 2025

The elite quarterback suffered a Grade 3 turf toe injury that will require surgery to repair damaged ligaments and is expected to miss at least three months of NFL action. While a return for him late in the season (if the Bengals are still in playoff contention) is possible, he will not be putting the pads on anytime soon, which benefits the Broncos in a crucial part of their schedule.

Cincinnati is scheduled to make the trip to Denver for a Monday Night Football clash in Week 4, a game that is sandwiched in between two road contests against the Chargers and Eagles for the Broncos. Burrow had over 400 yards and three touchdowns in last year’s epic showdown that nearly cost Denver a playoff spot, and given how the Broncos looked against Daniel Jones and the Colts in Week 2, Burrow was likely going to have another monster day against a Broncos defense that has been underwhelming to start the season.

No one roots for injuries in football, but they’re a part of the game. No team wants to say they beat up on an opponent that was missing its star player, but at the end of the day, it should make the contest easier for the Broncos

Everyone knows that Burrow is an elite quarterback, but Cincinnati’s offense didn’t waver too much in his absence in the win over Jacksonville. Backup quarterback and former college football star Jake Browning came into the game and threw for 241 yards and two touchdowns to help push his team to victory, highlighted by him orchestrating a 92-yard touchdown drive in the final four minutes to seal the deal for the Bengals. However, he was benefitted by a controversial pass interference call on that drive, and also threw three interceptions in the game that made it a bit closer than it should’ve when the dust settled.

Browning will still have the dynamic duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to throw the rock to — as long as they can stay healthy — which was a problem for the Broncos in 2024. Chase was negated by Pat Surtain II throughout that game, but Higgins was able to feast on Riley Moss and the rest of a secondary that wasn’t ready for the challenge of having to shut down two talented wideouts.

The Broncos could very well be 1-2 heading into the Week 4 battle against the Bengals, depending on if the defense can tighten things up for this week’s game agains the Chargers. Winning in the NFL is hard, head coach Sean Payton said it last week, but this news could make winning a bit easier when Cincinnati comes to town.

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