Joe Flacco Focused on Bengals’ Game, Not Burrow’s Return

Joe Flacco isn’t particularly concerned about Joe Burrow’s return from injury. The experienced quarterback noted that when Burrow, who is dealing with a turf toe issue, comes back, he might even find himself in a backup position.

“I don’t really know the specifics, but I assume the backups are aware that he’ll likely be back soon, maybe a three-week thing,” Flacco commented. “Honestly, I don’t spend time thinking about it. My focus is on this week. That’s really what matters to me. Dwelling on Burrow’s situation just seems like a distraction, and I’m not worried about that.”

Flacco, who joined the Bengals after a trade from the Browns, emphasized he’s solely focused on performing his role as they prepare to face the Steelers this week.

Burrow returned to practice this past Monday for the first time since his mid-September surgery. However, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor confirmed that Burrow will miss the upcoming game against Pittsburgh but could potentially return for the game against the Patriots on November 23 or the Thanksgiving night matchup against the Ravens.

“I think he’s made good progress,” Taylor remarked earlier this week, highlighting Burrow’s effort to get back onto the field, even if it’s in a limited capacity.

Flacco, now at 40 years old, has taken charge of the quarterback role with notable performance stats—averaging over 300 passing yards per game, accumulating 11 touchdowns against just two interceptions over four starts. Unfortunately, the team has only managed to win one of those games, largely due to defensive struggles.

The Bengals stand at 3-6, clinging to the hope of reaching the postseason.