It’s been more than two months since quarterback Joe Burrow last took the field for the Cincinnati Bengals thanks to a turf toe injury, and Cincinnati has fared woefully in his absence. After he helped the Bengals to a 2-0 start to the season, they are just 1-7 since and got blown out by the Pittsburgh Steelers in their most recent game on Sunday.
But even though the Bengals’ season already seems to be lost, Burrow still plans on making his return to the field, based on a report that surfaced prior to Sunday’s game. Regardless of Cincinnati’s record (which is now 3-7), he wants to be out there with his teammates.
“Based on the way Burrow has explained it to those who know him well, his plan is to return to the field regardless of the team’s record, which is 3-6 entering Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers,” NFL insider Ian Rapoport wrote.
“Could the organization step in and stop it if the Bengals continue to lose? Perhaps. But Burrow is pushing to play.”
It’s great that Burrow wants to get back on the field, though whether it would be a wise move for the Bengals to let him play is an important question. It might not be worth the risk of him re-aggravating his injury (or suffering a new one) for an incredibly slim chance of getting back in the playoff race. NFL.com currently gives the Bengals less than a one percent chance of qualifying for the playoffs.
Burrow is an elite signal-caller when healthy and at his best, and the Bengals sitting him out for the remainder of the season would help to ensure they get that version of him in the 2026 campaign. The former No. 1 overall pick played in all 17 of Cincinnati’s games in the 2024 season and led the league in passes completed, passing yards, passing touchdowns and first downs passing.
Plus, if the Bengals were to keep Burrow on the shelf for the rest of the campaign, that would only help their odds of landing a top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and they could use that pick to put another offensive star next to the quarterback. All in all, the right move for the sake of the Bengals’ long-term success seems to be to prevent Burrow from playing again this season, but whether that will end up happening isn’t clear.
The Bengals are in danger of picking up their eighth loss of the season soon, as they will take on a New England Patriots team next weekend that’s the hottest in the league. New England has won eight games in a row, and at 9-2, it’s in sole ownership of the NFL’s top record as of this writing. After the Patriots game, the Bengals will then have to face the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills and Ravens again, so tough sledding is ahead for the squad.
