The Cincinnati Bengals are doing everything they can to stay afloat. The Bengals’ season got off to a hot 2-0 start, but star quarterback Joe Burrow went down in the second game of the season with a turf toe injury that was expected to keep him out for most of the season.
The Bengals have started Jake Browning and Joe Flacco in place of Burrow, but have only one win to show for it, leaving Cincinnati sitting at 3-6 heading into their upcoming matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bengals are hoping that the team can turn things around to give Burrow time to return and lead a playoff push.
On Monday, the star quarterback returned to practice for the first time since the injury, per one prominent insider around the league.
“Bengals QB Joe Burrow will return to practice today in a limited capacity,” reported ESPN’s senior NFL insider Adam Schefter on Monday.
Unfortunately for the Bengals, Burrow said the quiet part out loud in a press conference following his return, confirming that their struggles to this point in the season leave only one path for the team to make the playoffs.
“Bengals QB Joe Burrow on if they are a playoff team: ‘Our division is wide-open. We play Pittsburgh this week. Everything is in front of us. It’s very rare our division looks like this, but it does this year.’
“Burrow says the only realistic path for them is winning the division,” reported Ari Meirov.
#Bengals QB Joe Burrow on if they are a playoff team:
"Our division is wide-open. We play Pittsburgh this week. Everything is in front of us. It's very rare our division looks like this, but it does this year."
Burrow says the only realistic path for them is winning the… https://t.co/5LKSbYHvHV pic.twitter.com/QTApt6M4CS
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 10, 2025
It’ll be interesting to see if the Bengals can put Burrow in position to make a playoff push upon his return.