The Cincinnati Bengals might witness the return of their marquee quarterback Joe Burrow sooner than expected. According to a report by WLWT, Joe Burrow has resumed full participation in Bengals practices, which is raising questions about his potential game-time availability against the New England Patriots. Initially sidelined with a surgery-requiring injury, Burrow is advancing ahead of the anticipated recovery timeline.
Zac Taylor, the Bengals’ head coach, maintains a cautious stance despite the progress, emphasizing the day-by-day approach in decisions concerning Burrow's playtime. As Burrow has begun taking snaps with the first team, fans and analysts alike are buzzing with speculation. In a statement obtained by WLWT, Taylor shared that "I think he's in a good spot," yet remained non-committal about Burrow starting this Sunday.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport weighed in on Burrow's situation, describing it as "fascinating." He mentioned on Cincinnati.com, "there is actually a chance that Joe Burrow starts on Sunday." Still, the question hinges on how Burrow's foot responds after full practices, which could dictate whether he will make an early return to the field or rest until a more secure date in December against the Bills.
The potential shakeup in the Bengals' quarterback situation comes as Burrow's backup, Joe Flacco, contends with a shoulder injury that limited his practice. The uncertainty of Flacco's condition added another layer to Taylor's decisions for Sunday, as reported by CBS Sports. Taylor, weary of committing to a definitive statement, expressed, "Until we get through some practices, there's no reason for me to even speculate on that."
Having been on injured reserve since suffering a Grade 3 turf toe injury, Burrow expressed the personal significance of an eventual return. Although he stopped short of pinpointing his comeback game, he told WLWT, "it would be 'very' meaningful" to play on Thanksgiving night. Meanwhile, the Bengals have until December 1 to activate Burrow off IR, thanks to the 21-day practice window that started on November 10. The upcoming games will reveal whether Burrow can indeed reclaim his position and lead the Bengals out of their current 1-7 stretch without him.
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