As the weather turns toward winter in Ohio, a shining ray of light is peeking through the clouds.
Two months after suffering a Grade 3 turf toe injury that required surgery, Joe Burrow has been cleared for a limited return to practice, the Bengals announced Monday.
Burrow remains on injured reserve but the Bengals opening his practice window means he has 21 days to be activated. A December return for Cincinnati's franchise quarterback is now in play. Burrow was given an initial recovery timeline of three months in early September.
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Burrow suffered the toe injury in the Bengals' Week 2 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, forcing backup Jake Browning into action in a nerve-wracking early September contest that saw Cincinnati improve to 2-0 for the first time under coach Zac Taylor. The victory represented an achievement for the Bengals but at the cost of Burrow, whose absence sent the Bengals into a temporary tailspin and eventually drove de facto general manager Duke Tobin to swing a deal for 40-year-old signal-caller Joe Flacco on Oct. 7.
Flacco's arrival both stabilized and revived Cincinnati's offense. Since replacing Browning, the Bengals have averaged 32.75 points per game, a total that would suggest they've returned to their winning ways even without Burrow.
That, of course, is not the case with these Bengals, whose defense has cratered over the same stretch. Cincinnati is allowing an average of 36 points per game and owns a 1-3 with Flacco in the starting lineup.
Burrow can't suit up and trot out with the defense, but news of his looming return will undoubtedly inspire those searching for a reason to believe the Bengals (3-6) can still make something out of the 2025 season. With games against Pittsburgh, New England and Baltimore up next, Cincinnati will be challenged weekly before Burrow is ready to play.
Hopefully, they can keep the ship afloat long enough to see their captain return.