Leading up to the Week 12 matchup against the New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals superstar quarterback Joe Burrow was trending toward being ready to make his return after missing all but the first two games of the 2025 NFL season due to a toe injury that required surgery.
Bengals wide receivers Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase were excited to see Burrow back at practice and seemingly healthy and ready to go. However, the Bengals ended up keeping Burrow sidelined against the Patriots, as the team suffered its eighth loss of the season.
Zac Taylor Provides Crucial Update on Bengals QB Joe Burrow
GettyJoe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Following the Bengals’ loss to the Patriots on Sunday, head coach Zac Taylor addressed the media and provided an update on Burrow’s status heading into Week 13, where the team will play on Thanksgiving Day against division rival Baltimore Ravens.
“I’m not going to clear anything for Thursday yet,” Taylor said. “He put himself in a great position to be ready to play this weekend, and the best decision for us was to wait a couple more days.”
It appears that the plan is for Burrow to make his return to the field on Thursday to take on the Ravens, meaning veteran journeyman Joe Flacco will serve as the backup. However, Flacco’s status for the next is uncertain due to a finger injury he suffered during the loss to the Patriots, and it would be safe to assume that Higgins won’t play against Baltimore as he is in concussion protocol.
“He is in concussion protocol,” Taylor said of Higgins. “Tahj Brooks. Marco [Wilson] got a hamstring (injury), and Flacco had an issue with his finger on his throwing hand.”
Taylor was then asked whether Flacco dislocated his injured finger and had it popped back in during the game.
“I don’t remember. That’s what it sounded like at the time, but I can’t remember what the trainers told me.”
Obviously, Flacco’s status will be a concern for Taylor and his coaching staff, even if he is expected to be the backup for Thursday’s game. Higgins is likely a bigger concern, as it will be one less weapon for Burrow downfield if he is indeed cleared and ready to make his return to the gridiron against the Ravens.
Joe Flacco Gets High Praise for Continuing to Fight Amid Bengals’ Struggles
GettyJoe Flacco #16 of the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Bengals have now lost four straight games, with the prospect of clinching a spot in the NFL playoffs looking bleak, to put it mildly.
Even though the team continues to struggle to get wins during the 2025 campaign, Taylor continues to praise Flacco for his grit and relentless drive.
“I think he just continues to fight for us and give us a chance,” Taylor said of Flacco. “Him and a lot of other guys in all three phases today. I thought just kept fighting for us and he gave us a chance there at the end of the game. He plays through a lot of pain and just keeps giving us a chance to win. We just haven’t been able to do it as a team yet.”
In the five games he’s played for the Bengals this season, Flacco has thrown 1,453 yards, 12 touchdowns and only three interceptions with a 63.4 completion percentage.
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