The news of Joe Burrow’s  injury sent shockwaves through the Bengals fan base. To understand the severity of his condition, FOX19 turned to OrthoCincy’s foot and ankle specialist, Dr. Ayesha Yahya.

Dr. Yahya provided a clear medical breakdown of Burrow’s injury: a Grade 3 turf toe, which means he has a complete rupture of the ligament in his big toe. This devastating injury likely occurred when his foot was firmly planted and his toe was hyperextended, a common occurrence in football.

According to Dr. Yahya, the best course of action is surgery, which ideally should be performed within 5 to 10 days of the injury. She estimates a recovery time of about three months, which will include a period of healing followed by physical therapy.

While any injury to a star player is concerning, Dr. Yahya offered a glimmer of hope. She explained that the injury is to Burrow’s non-dominant left foot, which is less critical for a quarterback’s push-off motion than the dominant right foot. This distinction could potentially make his recovery and return to top-tier play more manageable.