Burrow Says Wrist and Toe Injuries Hit Harder Mentally
The Bengals quarterback described how each injury he has suffered tested him differently, with the wrist and toe injuries weighing most heavily on his mind.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Football
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Joe Burrow said in a press conference that his mental challenges have grown with each injury, from a torn ACL in his 2020 rookie season to a wrist ligament tear in 2023 and a turf toe injury that required surgery in 2025. He said he processes setbacks by allowing himself to feel anger and sadness before returning to rehab.
Why it matters
Burrow's comments offer a candid look at how a starting quarterback manages the psychological side of repeated injuries, not just the physical recovery. His account shows how rehabilitation can be a source of both frustration and gradual improvement for athletes returning to play.
Burrow has suffered three documented injuries since 2020: a torn ACL in his rookie season, a torn wrist ligament in 2023, and a turf toe injury requiring surgery in 2025. The source does not provide games missed, recovery durations, or on-field performance metrics for each injury, leaving the practical cost of each setback unquantified.
The players
Joe Burrow
Joe Burrow is the quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals and was the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, having led the team to a Super Bowl appearance in the 2021 season.
The details
Burrow said the wrist and toe injuries caused the most anxiety because he had invested heavy work in his recovery before them. He said he feels anger and sadness after each setback, then refocuses on rehab exercises, which he described as working muscles not normally worked intensely, helping players return stronger.
Timeline
2020: Burrow tore his ACL during his rookie season.
2023: Burrow tore a ligament in his wrist.
2025: Burrow underwent surgery for a turf toe injury.
Nov. 14, 2026: Burrow discussed his injury recovery in a press conference this week.
Season Trajectory
Quarterback health has shaped Cincinnati's recent seasons, and Burrow's repeated injuries since his 2020 rookie year are a central part of that history. His candid account of mental recovery adds a human dimension to a pattern that directly affects the Bengals' competitive window.
Fantasy managers rostering Burrow should monitor his injury designations ahead of kickoff, since his history of multiple injuries affects weekly start decisions. Fans following the Bengals can track his status through team injury reports as the season progresses.
The takeaway
Recovery from injury is as much a mental process as a physical one, and Burrow's account shows that acknowledging frustration before returning to work can be part of getting stronger. For readers following athletes through setbacks, that perspective offers a grounded way to judge comebacks.
Further reading
For more on the sport, browse our Football coverage of injuries, rosters and player health across the league.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sports Illustrated.
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After a setback, do you usually come back stronger than before?
