Patriots
Updated: Nov. 17, 2025, 10:40 a.m.
|Published: Nov. 17, 2025, 10:39 a.m.
Joe Burrow
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)AP
Joe Burrow is making progress from a turf toe injury that required surgery, and it appears there is optimism for the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback to return earlier than anticipated.
The Bengals opened up the 21-day practice window last week for Burrow. While he’s ahead of schedule, it doesn’t appear he will be ready to go for Cincinnati’s home game against the New England Patriots on Sunday.
According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Burrow is targeting the Bengals’ Thanksgiving Day game against the Baltimore Ravens for a return. The “more likely” scenario, however, is the Dec. 7 game against the Buffalo Bills.
The Bengals, who are 3-7 after an ugly 34-12 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11, traded for veteran quarterback Joe Flacco in October. The hope was that he could keep Cincinnati competitive until Burrow returned. Flacco started on a high note with a win over the Steelers, but the 40-year-old has struggled.
The Patriots go into their Week 12 matchup in Cincinnati winners of eight straight and go up against a Bengals team that has lost three straight.
Lauren Campbell joined MassLive in 2023 as a breaking and trending Boston sports reporter covering all things locally and nationally. Campbell also produces MassLive's "Fenway Rundown" podcast. In her previous...more
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