Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, despite fully participating in practice this week, will not take the field in Week 12. Although he had been expected to return after missing eight games due to a turf toe injury that required surgery, he remains sidelined for Sunday’s matchup against the New England Patriots.
Burrow initially got injured in Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and while his potential return was a hopeful sign, it hasn’t materialized as many had anticipated. Now, it seems he will miss his ninth consecutive game. Joe Flacco, acquired from the Cleveland Browns earlier this season, will continue to start in Burrow’s absence, marking his sixth straight game behind center.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor mentioned Burrow’s need for careful monitoring, even after his impressive practice sessions on Wednesday and Thursday. However, he was oddly listed as a limited participant on Friday, stoking uncertainty regarding his availability. Burrow remains on injured reserve with a “questionable” status for the game against the Patriots.
This cautious approach makes sense, especially since the Bengals are scheduled to play two games in just five days, the second of which is against the Baltimore Ravens on Thanksgiving night. There’s some speculation that they might be holding out for Burrow to have a clearer path to recovery before pushing him back into action.
Fans have expressed mixed feelings about this situation—there was a glimmer of hope that Burrow would return, especially since they have struggled with a 1-7 record during his absence. The injury, while common, often leads to a lengthy recovery, and it’s somewhat surprising to see him on the verge of returning at all.
While Burrow’s two starts this season yielded 189 yards and two touchdowns, Jake Browning struggled, pushing the team to trade for Flacco. Flacco, now 40, hasn’t had the smoothest transition, suffering a tough loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week where he tallied no touchdowns and an interception.
To add to the pressure, it’s not just the offense that’s been shaky; the Bengals defense also faces significant challenges, ranking last in the NFL for both yards and points allowed per game. Flacco appears to be improving in his role, though, building some rapport with his receivers, particularly Ja’Marr Chase.
