The Cincinnati Bengals are obviously having a less than stellar year. It’s easy to say that it’s only because they have been without star QB Joe Burrow since Week 2.
Joe Burrow suffered a Grade 3 turf toe injury while being sacked in the second quarter of their Week 2 contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Burrow is expected to return closer to the playoffs, in which the Bengals will hope it even matters.
Their playoff hopes remain mathematically intact. However, their 3-6 record means they hold a low probability of making the big dance in January. The lack of Joe Burrow is not the only reason they are struggling so mightily right now, of course.
The Bengals’ defense has really left a lot to be desired. It ranks last in the NFL in both total points allowed and total yardage. Joe Flacco hasn’t really been struggling to move the ball, but the Bengals’ inability to stop opposing offenses cancels out their offensive progress.
This is part of the reason why former NFL QB and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky made a bold claim about Joe Burrow and his status as a Cincinnati Bengal.
Dan Orlovsky Recommends Joe Burrow Depart The Bengals
GettyCINCINNATI, OHIO – OCTOBER 16: Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium on October 16, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Per Cole Sullivan of Newsweek, Dan Orlovsky told his ESPN colleague Adam Schefter “if I were Joe Burrow, I would want out of Cincinnati.”
It may be a crazy thought. However, it would be hard to blame Joe Burrow if he did want to get out of the situation. The Bengals’ defense has been horrid with no signs of clear improvement. Yes, the offense has a multitude of weapons, but does it matter when the defense can’t stop a nose bleed?
Schefter responded to Dan Orlovsky: “That’s where it gets interesting, because if that’s what he wants — and we have no idea what he wants — but if that’s what he wants, it’s over. It’s over.”
Schefter Says The Bengals Are “Done” Without The Star QB
Getty Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow leads his team (-3.5) against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Sullivan, the author of the Newsweek post, detailed that Schefter stated if the Bengals were to trade away Burrow, then it would be “over”.
It seems to go without saying. A long-term Burrow-less Bengals team would not be an easy watch every Sunday. Even with Joe Flacco moving the ball now, they still aren’t an easy watch. Joe Burrow departing would likely cause a chain reaction. It’s likely Ja’Marr Chase would also force his way out off of the Bengals as well.
Burrow obviously probably isn’t going to get traded. Still, it would be very hard to blame him if he were to demand a trade. The cap implications would be a massive hold-up for the Bengals, but you can’t roster a player that doesn’t want to be there.
The Bengals need to find out a way to fix their defensive woes sooner rather than later so a fairy-tale trade doesn’t become reality.
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