In a move that feels like a parent telling their kid they can’t have dessert before dinner, the Cincinnati Bengals have decided to keep Quarterback Joe Burrow on the sidelines for this Sunday’s clash against the New England Patriots. Reports confirmed that Burrow will not be activated from injured reserve by the Saturday afternoon deadline, officially ruling him out.
This means the keys to the offense remain in the hands of the seasoned veteran, Joe Flacco. Flacco has been a stabilizing force since coming over from the rival Browns, but he’s not Burrow. The Bengals are 1-4 with him under center, and the offense just doesn’t have that same swagger.
So, What’s the Holdup?
Burrow has been attacking his rehab from a nasty turf toe injury like a man possessed. He was a full participant in practice this week, slinging the ball and looking, by all accounts, like his old self. Teammate Tee Higgins even said Burrow was “practicing like he was Week 1.” So, why the caution?
It’s simple, really: The schedule is brutal. The Bengals have a date with the Patriots on Sunday, followed by a Thanksgiving night brawl against the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens just five days later. Throwing your recently-repaired, half-a-billion-dollar quarterback into the fire twice in five days is the kind of move that gets a coach fired.
Head Coach Zac Taylor, while acknowledging Burrow did everything possible to play, had to make the smart call, not just the emotional one. “I have to take into account what’s best for him,” Taylor said Friday. “He’s coming back off an injury… I have to take into account what’s the best thing for him, what’s the best thing for the team.”
The Big Picture For the Bengals
Let’s face it, at 3-7, the Bengals’ playoff dreams are on life support. Rushing Burrow back into a tough spot, especially without his top target Ja’Marr Chase (serving a one-game suspension for spitting), is a recipe for disaster. The last thing anyone wants is to see Burrow re-aggravate the injury, a painful memory from his 2023 calf issues.
This decision, while frustrating for fans eager to see their hero back on the field, is the right one. It’s about protecting the long-term health of the franchise’s most important asset.
All eyes now turn to Thanksgiving. A primetime matchup against the Ravens seems like the perfect stage for Burrow’s comeback. The team gets a few extra days of rest and preparation, and Burrow gets more time to ensure he is truly 100%.
Until then, Bengals fans will have to stomach one more game with Flacco at the helm and pray the defense, which has been as porous as a screen door on a submarine, decides to show up. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but the potential payoff of a fully healthy Burrow for a late-season push is worth the wait.
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