The Cincinnati Bengals have confirmed that quarterback Joe Burrow will not be activated for their upcoming game against the New England Patriots this Sunday. This decision comes after considerable uncertainty surrounding Burrow’s status throughout the week. Although Burrow practiced fully for the first time since suffering a Grade 3 turf toe injury in September, head coach Zac Taylor opted against naming him the starter for the Week 12 matchup. The team had until 4 p.m. on Saturday to move Burrow to the active roster but ultimately decided to hold off.
Burrow’s injury has been a significant storyline for the Bengals this season. He sustained the Grade 3 turf toe on September 14 during a close 31-27 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Following the injury, Burrow was placed on injured reserve, sidelining him for eight games so far this season. The Bengals activated his 21-day practice window on November 10, giving them until December 1 to make a final decision on whether to return him to the active roster. Despite Burrow’s full participation in practice this week—the first since September 12—Taylor expressed caution about rushing him back, especially given the physical demands of his position.
Coach Taylor acknowledged Burrow’s impressive progress in practice but emphasized the risks involved with the quarterback’s mobility-based playing style. “He looks great,” Taylor said, but added that the team remains wary of exposing Burrow to hits too soon. Protecting their franchise quarterback from re-injury is a top priority. Burrow has not yet taken any contact since returning to practice, which leaves the Bengals cautious about his immediate readiness for game action.
With Burrow sidelined, veteran Joe Flacco will again start under center for Cincinnati. Flacco has been the team’s starting quarterback for the past five games, and Sunday’s game will mark his sixth consecutive start. While Flacco has posted some respectable numbers, the Bengals have struggled overall, holding a 1-5 record since he took over the starting role. This poor run is largely attributed to the team’s struggling defense rather than quarterback play.
Initially, it was assumed Flacco would start against the Patriots, especially since Burrow was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report. However, Burrow’s full participation in practice on Wednesday sparked speculation that he might return sooner than expected. On that same day, Taylor gave a non-committal answer when asked about the starting quarterback, officially putting “Burrow Watch” into effect. During practice, Burrow took all the first-team reps, a move that was partly influenced by Flacco’s ongoing shoulder injury. Flacco suffered the injury in Week 8, and since then, the Bengals have been giving him Wednesdays off to manage his recovery.
This week marked Burrow’s second week back at practice. He made a surprise limited return during Week 11 preparations but was restricted in his activity and did not participate in 11-on-11 drills. Taylor was clear at that time that Burrow would not play in the Week 11 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which the Bengals lost 34-12. This week, however, Burrow was able to take part in full 11-on-11 drills, a development that impressed Taylor. “I was pleased,” Taylor told Cincinnati radio station 700 WLW, noting that Burrow looked good during his full practice reps, something he hadn’t done in two months.
Despite the encouragement from Burrow’s practice performance, the Bengals ultimately decided against activating him for Sunday’s game. One of the primary reasons is the team’s schedule; they face two games within five days, with a Thanksgiving Day matchup against the Baltimore Ravens looming in Week 13. Taylor highlighted the challenge of asking Burrow to play two games so close together and indicated the team’s intention to manage his workload carefully.
Another factor influencing the decision is the suspension of wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase for Sunday’s game. Chase is Burrow’s favorite target, and the team felt it would be disadvantageous to activate Burrow without his top receiver available. This further supports the idea of waiting until the Thanksgiving game for Burrow’s return, where the full offensive lineup is more likely to be intact.
Burrow himself has expressed a desire to return on Thanksgiving. In a brief media appearance on November 10, he described a potential comeback on Thanksgiving night against the Ravens as “very” meaningful. When asked if that was his target, he responded cautiously, “We’ll see.”