When Joe Burrow underwent surgery to repair his toe back in September, it was widely reported that he would be out until at least mid-December. But a surprise showing at Bengals practice from the quarterback on Monday means that he is aiming to come back far sooner, and could even be activated within the next couple of weeks.
Joe Burrow Makes Surprise Appearance At Bengals Practice
Burrow has dealt with a rash of injuries throughout his career. He was healthy coming into 2025 though, and there were high expectations for him and his teammates in Cincinnati for this season. Hope didn’t last long, as Burrow only lasted until Week 2 before sustaining a season-changing ailment to a toe on his left foot, and were outscored 76-13 in the subsequent weeks.
Jake Browning was originally the one that took over the starting job, but he went 0-3 and was eventually benched. The Bengals instead opted to trade for Joe Flacco, who instilled some hope back into the fan base that he’d be able to bridge the gap until Burrow was healthy enough to play.
It’s been 57 days since he injured his toe.
Joe Burrow is back on a practice field.#LFG #WhoDey pic.twitter.com/fXwQdNwmVu— Dan Hoard (@Dan_Hoard) November 10, 2025
Flacco has gone 1-3 as the team’s starter, and Cincinnati is sitting at 3-6. Their two most recent losses have been particularly rough, as they scored a combined 80 points against the Jets and Bears and still couldn’t pick up a victory.
The Bengals just “enjoyed” their bye week, and have some promising news heading into Week 11. While Joe Burrow is still on the IR, Monday signifies the opening of his 21-day practice window. That means that he has three weeks to return to action and be placed on the active roster, though he has already been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Steelers. If things go to plan, he’ll likely be back under center against either the Patriots in Week 12 or the Ravens in Week 13.
Are The Bengals Rushing Their QB Back For No Reason?
Is bringing him back worth the risk? The team’s defense is a major issue, as the unit ranks dead last in both points and yards allowed in 2025. They’ve given up 86 points in just the last two games, and were even openly blamed for the Bears’ loss by some key players on the offensive side. Until the problems are fixed, the Bengals are susceptible to scoring 35+ points and still losing games.
Just have a funny feeling Joe Burrow is gonna return on Thanksgiving night😈 pic.twitter.com/Nq9zQXGCD8
— Chaston Scott (@CinCity808) November 10, 2025
Putting Burrow in harm’s way just to be outscored anyway may be a decision that comes back to bite Cincy. The Bengals and their fans have already endured enough injury issues with their star quarterback in his career, and any further ailments could affect future availability.
And if they lose to the Steelers in their upcoming game, Cincinnati will be even further back in the playoff hunt at 3-7. To make matters worse, the team’s best defensive player is doubtful for the Pittsburgh game, as Trey Hendrickson is healing from a hip injury sustained a few weeks back.
If Joe Burrow does not return within the 21-day window, he will be shut down for the season.
