Here are three observations amid the fallout from Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow suffering a turf toe injury that’ll reportedly require surgery and sideline him for at least three months:

1. The Cincinnati Bengals’ Super Bowl title window is likely closed.

Face it. The Bengals likely aren’t going to win their first Super Bowl title in the Joe Burrow era.

He’s facing having the third major surgery in his six-year career after suffering the injury while being sacked in Sunday’s win against Jacksonville – all injuries that are a result of poor offensive line play.

Burrow will turn 30 years old next year, and the Bengals can’t possibly expect him to keep coming back from major injuries and carrying the entire weight of the franchise. Everyone in Bengaldom, including Burrow, must face that he may never be the same. At some point, injuries take a physical and mental toll on even the best athletes.

This season is almost certainly lost. The few of us who view the Bengals objectively already said it was going to be tough to make the playoffs even with Burrow fully healthy. Backup QB Jake Browning is competitive and good enough to win some games. But the Bengals’ defense isn’t improved, and that’ll start to show as the competition gets tougher in the next month. Also, the offensive line hasn’t been good so far. Can Browning even stay on the field?

Looking ahead to 2026, Burrow presumably will be back and fully recovered. But Trey Hendrickson is in the last year of his contract this season, and it’s not likely he’ll be back in 2026 after the edge rusher and Bengals failed to reach a contract extension in the offseason.

Hendrickson is the only star player on defense. The front office can’t be trusted to find a competent replacement for him. So the defense very well could be worse next season. And the Bengals are looking at having the same offensive line, with the exception maybe being right guard.

Turns out, the window to win a Super Bowl probably closed after last season. Burrow was fully healthy, put up MVP-caliber numbers and set franchise records. Ja’Marr Chase won the receiving triple crown. Hendrickson led the league in sacks.

And the Bengals still missed the playoffs last season because of a horrible defense.

If not then, when?

Because expecting a few players to continue to perform at the top of the league for their position and consistently whiffing on evaluating talent around them isn’t a serious plan for winning a championship.

2. Joe Burrow should publicly call out Bengals executives.

Burrow is the highest-paid player in franchise history, and he’s had more influence on a stubborn front office than any player to ever play for the Bengals. He publicly said he wanted the franchise to sign Chase and receiver Tee Higgins to long-term deals, and the Bengals got it done.

It’s time Burrow goes public and calls out the franchise decision makers for not going all out to fix the offensive line and defense in the offseason. Media and fans constantly call out Bengals ownership and front office for cutting corners in free agency and for poor draft evaluations. They don’t seem to care.

Accountability must come from within. No one better to do it than Burrow.He is the ultimate team player. He’s been incredibly patient with the revolving-door offensive lines. He’s given his all for the Bengals franchise. Burrow has the credibility to say something. What does he have to lose? Another season to injury?

3. Cincinnati Bengals roster builder needs held accountable.

Myles Murphy. Jackson Carman. Zach Carter. Cam Taylor-Britt. DJ Turner. Dax Hill. Jordan Battle. Jermaine Burton. McKinnley Jackson. Go back to 2018 and first-round offensive line bust Billy Price. The list of underperformers from the first three rounds of the draft in recent years keeps growing.

Duke Tobin has been in charge of evaluating talent and building the roster as the Bengals’ player personnel director for more than two decades. It’s an eternity to be in what’s typically a high-pressure, produce-championships-or-get-fired job.

To his credit, Tobin built the 2021 Super Bowl team. But there have been far too many draft whiffs on the offensive line and defense in recent years. It’s forced the front office to chase its tail in free agency, where the Bengals have also made a lot of mistakes.

In the Burrow era, the offensive line has had regular turnover. The Bengals have seen free-agent disappointments Trent Brown and La’el Collins come and go. Guard Alex Cappa had a bad 2024 season, and the Bengals cut him with one year left on his contract. The Bengals went cheap on trying to replace Cappa by signing veterans that few other teams coveted.

Continuity is key for an offensive line. A team can’t have that many misses in the draft and free agency – and be in a constant unsettled state – and expect to sustain success.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday that the Bengals’ offensive line has consistently ranked in the bottom five in the league in pass protection each of Burrow’s seasons. The best they’ve finished in that category is 27th in 2023. The Bengals rank 28th so far this season, according to Schefter.

The Bengals have had three offensive line coaches since head coach Zac Taylor arrived in 2019. But the inconsistent and subpar performance has continued, an indictment on the team’s talent-evaluation process.

Should Tobin be on the hot seat?