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Back in Week 2, Cincinnati Bengals franchise quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a torn ligament in his toe, an injury that was expected to sideline him until at least mid-December. However, Burrow appears to be progressing at a rapid pace, as the Bengals activated him off injured reserve on Monday, opening a 21-day window for him to return to practice. Within that span, the team will need to add him back to the active roster if the plan is for him to return to game action. According to Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer, Burrow is targeting a “Thanksgiving-ish” return, which could potentially line him up to play in three weeks on Thanksgiving night against the Baltimore Ravens. With Cincinnati sitting at 3-6, their margin for error is slim if they hope to remain in the hunt for the AFC North — a division that remains wide open. More NFL: Andy Reid Announces Chiefs Are Adding Reinforcements Before Broncos Game More NFL: Cowboys’ Jerry Jones Breaks Silence on Tragic Death of Marshawn Kneeland In Burrow’s absence, veteran quarterback Joe Flacco — acquired via trade from the Cleveland Browns — has stepped in and played exceptionally well, despite the defense struggling at a historically poor rate and contributing to a pair of heartbreaking losses in recent weeks. Still, Flacco’s demeanor and leadership since arriving in Cincinnati have clearly impressed Burrow, who spoke about the veteran quarterback during his press conference on Monday. “He’s playing great,” Burrow said. “He’s putting the ball where it needs to go. He’s been accurate with it, getting the ball out. The O-line has been playing great. We’ve been running the ball really well over these last couple of weeks. That’s been exciting to see. And, obviously, our guys on the outside are making plays like they always do. “He’s fun to be around,” Burrow added. “He’s quiet sometimes. I think we have that in common. He’ll throw some off-the wall stuff out there every once in a while that I like, that makes me laugh. He’s fun to be around. I’m happy that I’ve been able to have this experience and watch him do his thing and see how he operates.” Flacco has completed 65.4% of his passes for 1,254 yards, 11 touchdowns, and just two interceptions during his four starts for the Bengals. However, if Burrow is healthy enough to return to the field, it’s a no-brainer who Cincinnati must move forward with at quarterback considering they made Burrow one of the highest-paid players in NFL history back in 2023. When healthy, Burrow has proven to be one of the league’s elite quarterbacks, leading the Bengals to multiple AFC Championship appearances and a Super Bowl berth in 2021. He’s coming off the best statistical season of his career in 2024, but injuries have continued to plague him throughout his career.
