At one level final week, the indicators had been pointing towards Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow returning for Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Patriots. After two straight days of full-participation practices, one thing modified.
By Friday, Joe Flacco acquired the starter reps, in an effort to get him prepared for the Week 12 contest with New England. Burrow in the end wasn’t activated from injured reserve.
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One concept was that, with two video games solely 4 days aside, the Bengals determined to attend till Thanksgiving evening for Burrow’s return.
That stated, it is nonetheless not sure Burrow will play when the Bengals journey to Baltimore for the Thursday evening recreation. Per a supply with information of the scenario, “Nothing is about in stone.” Burrow’s standing for the Week 13 recreation is “TBD” primarily based on his how physique responds after latest and upcoming apply time.
Burrow “needs to play.” However there is a larger consideration at play. At 3-8, the Bengals are going through a really small likelihood of constructing it to the postseason. If there is a important danger of re-injuring torn toe ligaments that required surgical procedure after a Week 2 damage, is the reward value it?
Whereas the Bengals need a return on the funding they’ve made in Burrow, in addition they want to guard that funding for 2026. The probabilities of not having Burrow 100% all through the 2026 offseason program must be balanced in opposition to the upside, if any, of getting him out there for the ultimate six video games of the season.
