The Cincinnati Bengals are staring down the barrel of a three-year playoff drought if they can’t manage to make the field this season, which seems unfathomable considering the Bengals have stars Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins, and Ja’Marr Chase at the helm.
Unfortunately, despite a 2-0 start to the season, the Bengals are 3-6 heading into this weekend’s matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Burrow has been sidelined since Week 2 with a turf toe injury, which has obviously contributed to Cincinnati’s poor record.
However, the Burrow returned to practice this week, and while he’s not going to play this weekend, he is expecting to make his return and help lead a playoff push in the home stretch of the season.
For Burrow to have a real chance at getting the Bengals to the playoffs, the Bengals are going to have to win some games until he can rejoin the team. Unfortunately, this weekend’s matchup with the Steelers is going to be even more difficult than it should be.
One prominent insider has confirmed that the Bengals’ defense, which has struggled this season, is going to be without its top two pass rushers on Sunday, which seriously jeopardizes Burrow’s ability to lead the team to the playoffs.
“Zac rules out Trey and Shemar for Sunday,” reported Jay Morrison.
> Zac rules out Trey and Shemar for Sunday
>
> — Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) [November 14, 2025](https://twitter.com/ByJayMorrison/status/1989384620207714637?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Fans reacted to the news on social media.
“New season starts Sunday. Defense turned it around, now it’s time for the offense to find its rhythm!” one Steelers fan wrote on Twitter.
“Shemar rules himself out of every play anyway,” one Bengals fasn added.
It’ll be interesting to see how the Bengals look come Sunday.