The Cincinnati Bengals may be getting their star quarterback back on the field. Joe Burrow is gearing up to make an early return from his toe injury.
Some thought that he would be out for the season, either because the Bengals would be eliminated from playoff contention or because of the extent of the injury. Fast forward to today, and he could return as early as their next outing.
Former NFL QB Dan Orlovsky recently sent a confident message about Burrow’s status for Cincinnati’s Week 12 game against the New England Patriots.
“[Joe Burrow] is gonna start. I mean there’s no way he’s practicing fully today if he’s not gonna start on Sunday,” Orlovsky said.
"[Joe Burrow] is gonna start. I mean there's no way he's practicing fully today if he's not gonna start on Sunday."@danorlovsky7 is confident Joe Burrow will be under center for the Bengals during Week 12 ? pic.twitter.com/4QeNVKJ98O
— ESPN (@espn) November 19, 2025
The Bengals’ offense has looked sharp with Joe Flacco, at least for the most part. The defense, on the other hand, continues to be one of the worst in the league.
Yet, the AFC North is still up for grabs, so getting Burrow back on the field might make sense to a degree. However, it comes with major risks.
The Bengals’ offensive line has left a lot to be desired, and it’s partially responsible for Burrow’s injury woes. Putting him back behind that unit after his latest injury could be organizational malpractice.
The team is playing with fire, and it might be a desperate move by head coach Zac Taylor to hold on to his job. The Bengals should be thinking about the big picture, and they may have much more to lose than to win with this potential decision.
NEXT: Bengals Get Good News On Joe Burrow
