Joe Burrow stepped back into full practice on Wednesday, November 19, and fans felt a tiny jolt seeing it happen. His return to 11-on-11 work felt unexpected as Grade 3 turf toe from Week 2 usually stays for a more extended period. Since then, Bengals’ QB has been on injured reserve, so watching him go through a complete practice seemed like a real change. Zac Taylor played it cool, mentioning he wouldn’t promise any snaps for Week 12 versus the Patriots. He spoke carefully, kind of like he was telling folks to hit pause for now.
Ian Rapoport had an update on his X post saying, “From @GMFB: #Bengals QB Joe Burrow was a full participant yesterday, but how does he come back today? Plus, key injuries for TNF tonight.”
From @GMFB: #Bengals QB Joe Burrow was a full participant yesterday, but how does he come back today? Plus, key injuries for TNF tonight. pic.twitter.com/MNY4y0A6w8
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 20, 2025
Joe Burrow Trending Toward a Return, but Team Remains Cautious
Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase
Dec 9, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1) smashes a donut on the face of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) after the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Burrow’s full session came right after he worked through a limited practice on Monday, November 10, which opened his 21-day window for activation. The next step arrived on Wednesday when he grabbed first-team reps while Joe Flacco sat out with a shoulder issue. That setup gave Burrow a cleaner shot at moving through fundamental drills, letting him feel how the toe handled sudden cuts and quick pocket movement. The vibe around that practice felt lighter, almost like teammates were trying not to stare too hard.
Zac Taylor talked on 700WLW on Thursday and said he wasn’t ready to make a call on Burrow’s status for Sunday. PerClutchpoints the head coach said, “I’m not thereyet,” which matched the staff’s patient tone. Ian Rapoport mentioned that Wednesday looked sharp for Burrow, yet he pointed out that the next session would reveal more. The Bengals kept things tight, watching him closely with every rep.
Cincinnati’s got pressure piling up. With the Bengals stuck at 3-7, Ja’Marr Chase won’t play Sunday against the Patriots due to suspension. A return by Week 12? Still possible on paper, yet chatter keeps pointing toward Thanksgiving week as the likelier moment he fully reappears.
Burrow’s outlook stays steady. He has said all year that he plans to return, no matter how the record looks. The following few practices matter more than anything right now since they decide whether he lines up again soon or holds off a bit longer. Cincinnati is tracking each step, trying to keep him healthy while still giving the team some hope during a rough stretch.