So, you’re looking at the Cincinnati Bengals and wondering who’s actually steering the ship at quarterback right now. It’s a fair question because, honestly, the last year has been a total roller coaster for the folks in the Queen City.
The short answer? Joe Burrow is the Bengals' starting quarterback. But if you’ve been following the news lately, you know it’s never quite that simple with this team. We just watched the 2025 season wrap up, and while Burrow is "the guy," his path through the last few months was anything but smooth. After a devastating turf toe injury in Week 2 against the Jaguars, many fans thought the season was a wash. And in some ways, it was.
The Joe Burrow Saga: Resilience vs. Reality
Joe Burrow is currently 29 years old, and he’s entering what should be the prime of his career. When he's on the field, he's basically a magician. We saw that in the final stretch of 2025. After missing nine games following surgery for a Grade 3 turf toe sprain, he returned on Thanksgiving Day.
He didn't just return; he reminded everyone why the Bengals handed him a $275 million contract.
In the eight games he actually played this past season, he threw for 1,809 yards, 17 touchdowns, and only 5 interceptions. If you do the math, that's a crazy pace. Pro Football Focus (PFF) even gave him a 91.8 grade, which is elite by any standard. But the Bengals finished 6-11. It's a weird spot to be in—having a top-five quarterback who can't seem to stay on the grass for a full 17-game slate.
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Current Bengals Quarterback Depth Chart (Early 2026)
Right now, the room looks like this:
- Joe Burrow: The undisputed starter. The face of the franchise.
- Jake Browning: The reliable backup who has basically become a cult hero in Cincinnati.
- Joe Flacco: The veteran "Renaissance" presence who actually kept the team's playoff hopes alive for a minute during Burrow's absence.
- Desmond Ridder: A newer addition who provides some mobility and starting experience if things go south.
Is the "Elite" Label Fading?
People love to argue about Burrow. Some say he’s the only one who can truly challenge Patrick Mahomes. Others look at his injury history—three major injuries in six years—and wonder if he's the next Andrew Luck.
It's a tough conversation.
Burrow himself admitted recently that the upcoming 2026 offseason is "as big as it gets." He's pushing the front office to be more creative. He wants a better defense. He’s tired of watching the playoffs from his couch. Honestly, you can't blame him. When you’re as good as he is, losing feels like a personal insult.
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The Backup Situation: More Than Just a Safety Net
When Burrow went down in September, Jake Browning stepped in. Browning is kind of a fascinating story. He was undrafted, spent years on practice squads, and then suddenly he’s leading game-winning drives. In 2025, he had some struggles—throwing 6 touchdowns to 8 interceptions—but he knows Zac Taylor's system inside and out.
Then you have Joe Flacco. Yeah, that Joe Flacco. He’s 41 now, but the guy still has a cannon. He filled in during the middle of the season and actually put up some huge numbers, including a 470-yard game against the Bears. It’s wild to think the Bengals' season was kept afloat by a guy who won a Super Bowl when Burrow was still in high school.
What to Expect for the 2026 Season
The Bengals aren't moving on from Burrow. His contract runs through 2029, and his cap hit for 2026 is roughly $46 million. He’s the anchor. However, the narrative is shifting from "How good is Burrow?" to "Can Burrow stay healthy?"
He’s already working on his mobility and "time to throw" metrics. In the final weeks of the 2025 season, he was getting the ball out in about 2.64 seconds. That’s fast. It has to be, because the Bengals' offensive line—while improved with guys like Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims—still gives up too many hits.
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If you’re a Bengals fan or just someone trying to keep your fantasy roster straight, here is the bottom line:
Joe Burrow is the QB1. He is healthy heading into the 2026 offseason. He’s still throwing to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins (for now).
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the Bengals' transactions in March. They have an option bonus due for Burrow on March 20, 2026. This is usually just a formality, but it’s the official "green light" for the season. You should also watch the draft; don't be surprised if they take another mid-round tackle. Protecting #9 isn't just a strategy anymore—it's a necessity for the franchise's survival.
Final thought? Don't bet against Burrow in a comeback year. We've seen this movie before in 2021, and we know how that ended.