After losing to the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11, the Cincinnati Bengals have dropped three straight games, with the team’s prospects of making a run at a spot in the NFL playoffs looking bleak.
The Bengals seem to be holding out hope that superstar quarterback Joe Burrow can return sooner rather than later and help the squad get back to winning football games while keeping its postseason hopes alive with only seven regular-season games left on the schedule.
Joe Burrow Has ‘No Definitive Return Date’
GettyJoe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Ahead of the divisional clash with the Steelers this past weekend, Burrow was finally able to return to practice, which obviously is a great sign, as he might be able to return to the field sooner than expected.
However, Melanie Collins of NFL on CBS provided an update during the matchup with Pittsburgh, which shed some light on when Burrow might be able to return to the field under center.
“Joe Burrow returned to practice this week, opening up his 21-day practice window,” Collins said. “Zac Taylor said he’s making good progress. He threw 7-on-7 on Monday and looked like that same Joe Burrow with that quick release and perfect placement. The next step in the progression will be throwing on 11-on-11 with the scout team next week.
“A number of reports have come out about when he’ll return to the field. I was told by the Bengals this morning, Week 13 against the [Baltimore] Ravens is another possibility, as is Week 14 against the [Buffalo] Bills, but as of now, no definitive return date for Joe Burrow.”
Obviously, the Bengals want Burrow back on the field as soon as possible to potentially salvage the season, but they also want to be cautious with their superstar quarterback to prevent further injury and avoid jeopardizing next season.
That said, it’ll be interesting to see what happens with Burrows and the Bengals moving forward.
Should the Bengals Hold Joe Burrow Out for the Rest of the Season?
GettyJoe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Heading into Week 12’s matchup against the New England Patriots, the Bengals are sporting a disappointing 3-7 record, with a slim chance of clinching a playoff spot moving forward unless the team goes on an epic win streak.
Although veteran quarterback Joe Flacco has shown promise at times under center for his new squad, the results have been the same, with the team riding a three-game losing streak.
With the team more than likely being on the outside looking in on the postseason, the Bengals should seriously consider shutting down Burrow for the rest of the season, with the focus being on the 2026 campaign rather than the final stretch of the current regular season, with the earliest he can return being Week 13 against the Ravens.
Along with there being a slim chance that the Bengals can turn things around with Burrow on the field, the team faces an incredibly tough schedule, starting with the Patriots, followed by the Ravens, Bills and Baltimore again in Week 15.
The smart move for Cincinnati might be to cut its losses and focus on being healthy for the 2026 season.
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