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The Cincinnati Bengals received encouraging news Monday when quarterback Joe Burrow returned to practice for the first time since mid-September. Burrow had been sidelined since sustaining a Grade 3 turf toe injury during the first half of Cincinnati’s 31-27 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 14.
He underwent surgery five days later and was placed on injured reserve, missing seven consecutive games. During his absence, the Bengals managed just one win against six losses.
His potential return has generated discussion about whether Cincinnati should activate him immediately. Franchise legend Chad Johnson expressed caution during an appearance on Inside The NFL, arguing that rushing Burrow back would serve little purpose given the team’s current situation.
“It really doesn’t matter, because I think our record will still be the same and our chances of making the playoffs would still be slim, because we can’t stop no da*n body… So we get Joe back, we get excited, we put him out there again, and he’s coming fresh off a surgery. No, no, we don’t need that. We don’t need that unless we’re certain we have an opportunity to make the playoffs. Joe! Relax,” Johnson said.
"We don't need that unless we're certain we have an opportunity to make the playoffs."@OchoCinco isn't convinced it's worth bringing Joe Burrow back from injury this year. pic.twitter.com/2HQozWGHR6
— Inside the NFL (@insidetheNFL) November 13, 2025
Johnson believes the Bengals should prioritize Burrow’s long-term health over short-term gains. He pointed to Cincinnati’s defensive struggles as the primary obstacle preventing any meaningful playoff push, regardless of who plays quarterback.
Johnson noted that Joe Flacco has handled the offense adequately in Burrow’s absence, making an early return unnecessary. The former receiver questioned the logic of bringing Burrow back to play in high-scoring games that the defense cannot close out.
He emphasized that Cincinnati’s issues stem from poor tackling, lack of effort, and an inability to limit big plays through the air. Until those problems are addressed, Johnson argued, inserting Burrow changes nothing about the team’s trajectory.
The Bengals face a December 1 deadline to activate Burrow to the active roster. They can make that move at any point before the deadline, but if he remains on injured reserve past that date, he will be ineligible for the remainder of the season.
NEXT: Nick Wright Isn't Buying Joe Burrow's Playoff Optimism