The Cincinnati Bengals have not had the sort of season they were hoping for at the start of the year. The Bengals are sitting at 3-8 on the season, well outside of the current AFC playoff picture.
However, if Cincinnati can win the AFC North, which doesn’t seem particularly strong this year, the Bengals will secure a playoff berth. Cincinnati is set to get a major boost from the early return of quarterback Joe Burrow, who hasn’t played since Week 2 on account of a turf toe injury, according to one prominent league insider.
“Bengals HC Zac Taylor said he anticipates that QB Joe Burrow will play Thursday night vs. the Ravens,” ESPN’s senior insider Adam Schefter reported on Monday.
> Bengals HC Zac Taylor said he anticipates that QB Joe Burrow will play Thursday night vs. the Ravens.
>
> — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) [November 24, 2025](https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1993018315892310356?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Unfortunately, Burrow has received some horrible news concerning one of his top targets, and if that weren’t enough, the defense also can’t catch a break.
“Bengals HC Zac Taylor told reporters that Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson will not play Thursday night vs. the Ravens,” Schefter reported.
> Bengals HC Zac Taylor told reporters that Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson will not play Thursday night vs. the Ravens.
>
> — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) [November 24, 2025](https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1993017498862862789?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Fans reacted to the news on social media.
“So Hendrickson is going to what team after this season?? lol,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“Ouch, tough news for Bengals fans Losing Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson will definitely shake things up against the Ravens this Thursday,” someone else wrote.
“Time for the Bengals to lose more games on purpose in order to get a high draft pick next year,” another fan added.
It’ll be interesting to see if Burrow can overcome things and lead the Bengals to the playoffs.