It was feeling like a lost season for the Cincinnati Bengals just a few days ago. But with a possible resurgence thanks to the newly acquired Joe Flacco combined with the report that Joe Burrow could return this year, there is some optimism now surrounding the team.
Bengals Hoping Joe Burrow Can Return In December
Ahead of the team’s Thursday Night Football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Bengals revealed some positive news. It was previously unclear whether star quarterback Joe Burrow was planning on a return this season after suffering a severe turf toe injury in Week 2, which required surgery.
From The TNF pregame show on @NFLonPrime: #Bengals QB Joe Burrow is on track to return in mid-December; Plus, what does the future hold for #Bengals star edge Trey Hendrickson? pic.twitter.com/eBlzLlevVZ
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 16, 2025
The timetable for a return was set at three months, but there was some doubt that he’d try to make a comeback this season. But even before Cincinnati’s big win on Thursday, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that Burrow is intent on a mid-December return, and that there have been no setbacks during the first month of recovery.
Flacco Leads Cincy To Big Win On Thursday Night
He’ll have plenty of reason to return if the Bengals can feed off of their momentum generated in Week 7. In his second game as the team’s starter and just 10 days into his stay in Cincinnati, the 40-year-old Joe Flacco out dueled 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers, completing 31 of his 47 passes for 342 yards and 3 touchdowns. He showed an early rapport with Ja’Marr Chase, who caught 16 balls for 160 yards and a touchdown.
It was Flacco’s performance that helped secure the win for Cincinnati, which included a last-minute drive to put his team in field goal range for the game-winning kick.
Can they remain afloat until December with Flacco at the helm?
Bengals Have 2nd-Softest Remaining Schedule
With the win, the Bengals move to 3-4 and remain alive in the two-team race for the AFC North. They are still 1.5 games behind the Steelers for the division lead, but now hold the tiebreaker over Pittsburgh thanks to their big win. The two sides will meet again in a month, with the rematch scheduled for November 16th.
Flacco and company have a good chance to remain competitive until that second matchup. The Bengals will play their next two games at home, with games against the Jets and Bears coming up on the schedule, and will then enjoy their bye week. When they meet the Steelers for the second time, they will have had two weeks to prepare.
The remaining schedule will help, as well. Based on the combined winning percentage of their upcoming opponents, the Bengals have the second-softest remaining slate in the NFL, behind only the Patriots.
