The Cincinnati Bengals have avoided another slow start to the season, rattling off back-to-back wins over the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars to open the 2025 campaign. Unfortunately, Cincinnati didn’t escape the wins cleanly.
Joe Burrow went down with a toe turf injury in the win over the Jaguars that will keep him out for an extended period of time.
“ESPN sources: Bengals QB Joe Burrow will need toe surgery that will sideline him a minimum of three months,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported early on Monday morning.
Interestingly, former New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr, who retired this past offseason due to a shoulder injury, recently shared that he hasn’t entirely ruled out a return to football.
“I wouldn’t say never because I’ve learned that when I say never, it usually happens,” Carr said of playing again, via the Dan Patrick Show. “I think we’ve all probably learned that. So, for me right now, I’m training because I love to train. That’s gonna be the rest of my life. I love to train. I throw a football every now and then out in the front with my kids and with my buddy for fun, because it’s part of my rehab still for my shoulder.
“I’m still just trying to get that back right from getting the shot and doing the rehab and all that. So I’m still doing those things. And so I always felt like, even though I’m done, if God wanted me to do it, I’ve got to be ready. I don’t want to go out there and not be ready, you know. So I’ll be ready, but I’m not coming back. Like, right now, today, I’m not coming back.”
Naturally, it’s left many fans wondering if Carr would be a good fit to fill in for the Bengals. However, PFT’s Mike Florio is just about putting an axe in those plans.
“While he didn’t close the door on playing again during a recent visit with Dan Patrick, it’s clear that Carr is still dealing with the shoulder injury that prompted him to opt to retire in May. Then there’s the fact that he remains under contract with the Saints; for Carr to be available, a trade would be necessary,” Florio reported.
Fans reacted to Florio’s reporting on social media.
“He would’ve never left the Saints if they had picked the right QB. I’d bet money he wouldve stayed to help develop them,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“Carr never got surgery so he’s still not healthy. So ya I guess someone could send draft picks for an injured quarterback. I don’t see that happening,” one fan added.
It’ll be interesting to see if Carr ever plays another down in the league.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.