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He may have participated fully in practice this week, but Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will be sidelined in Week 12.
Burrow will reportedly not be active for the Bengals’ game against the New England Patriots on Sunday despite practicing fully this week.
Burrow has been recovering from a toe injury he suffered in Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Paycor Stadium, which required surgery. But there were hopes the franchise quarterback would return this week after missing eight games.
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Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals looks to pass during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Paycor Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Unfortunately for Burrow, the number now stands at nine. Joe Flacco, whom Cincinnati acquired from the Cleveland Browns earlier this season, will start his sixth straight game with Burrow on the bench.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters Friday that he had to be careful with Burrow, even though he was practicing hard Wednesday and Thursday. However, he was listed as a limited participant on Friday, raising some questions about his availability for Sunday.
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Burrow, who remains on the injured reserve list, was listed as “questionable” for the game against the Patriots.
The reason for the caution revolves around the Bengals playing two games in five days, as they have the Baltimore Ravens on the road on Thanksgiving night. Perhaps Burrow and the Bengals are targeting the holidays for their long-awaited return to the field.
The fact that Burrow will have a chance to return is something fans didn’t think they’d see when he landed on injured reserve after needing surgery to repair his injury. Toe ailments vary in severity, but surgery usually means a player could be out the rest of the season.
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But Burrow has been practicing very well since he was discovered this week, as the Bengals had him back with the starting offense. Given that the Bengals have gone 1-7 since his absence, fans were certainly hoping he would be able to play on Sunday.
In his two starts earlier this season, Burrow threw for 189 yards and two touchdowns. Jake Browning, his backup in Week 2, finished with the Jaguars to start the season 0-2, but his subsequent struggles led to the trade for Flacco, who has been a starter since landing in Cincinnati.
The 40-year-old, who has been dealing with a shoulder injury, got off to his worst start in a Bengals uniform last week: a 34-12 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Flacco was 23 of 40 for 199 yards with no touchdown passes and a pick six.
Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals plays against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on September 7, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The Bengals’ losing streak isn’t all on offense, however, as Flacco has limited turnovers and has found some chemistry with his receivers, especially Ja’Marr Chase. Cincinnati’s defense ranks worst in the NFL in key statistics, including yards allowed per game (418.2) and points allowed (33.4).
