On Friday, Joe Flacco got initial reps to prepare him for the Week 12 contest with New England. Burrow was ultimately not activated from injured reserve.
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One theory was that, with two games just four days apart, the Bengals decided to wait until Thanksgiving night for Burrow’s return.
That said, it’s still not a certainty that Burrow will play when the Bengals travel to Baltimore for Thursday night’s game. According to a source with knowledge of the situation, “Nothing is set in stone.” Burrow’s status for the Week 13 game is “TBD” based on how his body responds after recent and upcoming practice time.
Burrow “wants to play.” But there is a larger consideration at play. At 3-8, the Bengals face a very slim chance of making the postseason. If there is a significant risk of re-injuring torn toe ligaments that required surgery after a Week 2 injury, is the payoff worth it?
While the Bengals want a return on the investment they made in Burrow, they also need to protect that investment for 2026. The chances of not having Burrow at 100 percent during the 2026 offseason program must be balanced against the advantages, if any, of having him available for the final six games of the season.