{"id":369837,"date":"2025-11-10T19:22:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T19:22:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/369837\/"},"modified":"2025-11-10T19:22:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T19:22:11","slug":"bengals-joe-burrow-cleared-to-practice-what-it-means-for-his-potential-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/369837\/","title":{"rendered":"Bengals\u2019 Joe Burrow cleared to practice: What it means for his potential return"},"content":{"rendered":"

CINCINNATI \u2013 Joe Burrow was cleared to return to practice in a limited capacity Monday. The Bengals\u2019 franchise quarterback injured his toe in Week 2 against Jacksonville, requiring surgery.<\/p>\n

The timeline for his return was mid-December, but by allowing Burrow to rejoin practice, Cincinnati now has 21 days to decide whether he can come back off injured reserve this season as a designated return player. If he isn\u2019t activated in 21 days, his season will be over. Burrow will be returning in a limited fashion so that he can \u201cbegin progressing toward on-field activities.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Burrow firing off some throws on air in the early portion of practice. <\/p>\n

Shout out iPhone 17x zoom. pic.twitter.com\/y7uAGlB672<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) November 10, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s ready for this part of the recovery, to come back on a limited basis and progress it on the field with the players,\u201d Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. \u201cInternally, this was always a good timeline for us. He\u2019s worked really hard to get to this point, to get back on the field in a limited form.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cincinnati\u2019s offense has thrived since Joe Flacco took over at quarterback in Week 6. They rank No. 1 in EPA\/play in that span.<\/p>\n

Burrow is also expected to speak to the media after practice on Monday for the first time since his injury.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is just Day 1, just get out there and at least throw routes on air with the receivers. Then start progressing that way,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cYou have this great opportunity for these next couple weeks to start inching his way forward and then see if he can play for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

What does this mean?<\/p>\n

The Bengals keep hope alive, much as they have been. Once Burrow was injured, the point of this entire season was keeping the team relevant and in play for a postseason spot until he could return and they could hand him the ball for a playoff run. Flacco\u2019s impressive performance and the complete disaster on the defensive side of the ball have made his situation less notable in the big picture of 2025. The Bengals\u2019 defense ranks among the worst in NFL history, not just the worst in the league this year.<\/p>\n

What does this say about Burrow?<\/p>\n

This suggests things are going well in his recovery from the toe injury. He had surgery and has been seen on the sidelines of recent games. He no longer needed a walking boot, appeared to be walking without limitations and was even doing soft toss on the sideline during the last game against Chicago. His timeline hasn\u2019t moved from the original diagnosis, but this now allows the Bengals to keep him working on the field and gauge his progress. All this while the 3-6 Bengals enter a critical three-game stretch against Pittsburgh, New England and Baltimore, as they attempt to keep their season alive. There\u2019s still a chance Burrow does not return this season if the Bengals end up out of the playoff picture in the next month.<\/p>\n

Taylor did not commit to whether Burrow would play at all during the 21-day period. \u201cWe\u2019ll get through this week, then approach next week and see where we end up after that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n