Things are not looking good for Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
Burrow left the Week 2 game versus the Jacksonville Jaguars early with a toe injury and the fear is that he has Grade 3 turf toe that will require surgery and force him to miss at least three months.
However, Burrow is first going to get a second opinion on his injury from noted foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
In the wake of that news, former Bengals wide receiver Andrew Hawkins revealed he had a similar situation in his final season with Cincinnati.
He noted how the Bengals' medical staff had him set up for season-ending ankle surgery before he got a second opinion from Dr. Anderson, who said that the receiver didn't need it and Hawkins ultimately returned the same season.
"In 2013 (my contract year) I hurt my ankle in training camp with the Bengals," he said. "The team doctor and trainers scheduled me season-ending surgery. My agent and I went and got a second opinion from Dr. Anderson who said surgery wasn't necessary and I could be back by week 6. He was right.
"Still hope, Bengals fans."
Hawkins actually ended up missing the first eight games of the season before making his return in Week 9. Even still, that absence was a lot shorter than what would've happened if Hawkins didn't get the second look from Dr. Anderson.
Nobody is saying that will definitely happen here, but it does give at least some hope that Burrow's issue may not be as bad as initially feared.
If Burrow were to miss three months, that would place his return around Dec. 14, which is Week 15. That means the Bengals will have to navigate about 11 games without Burrow.
The good news is, Jake Browning has proven himself to be a solid backup and it is conceivable he could keep Cincinnati afloat until then.
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