Cincinnati (3-8) has gone 1-8 without Burrow this season, with Jake Browning and Joe Flacco (traded by the Bengals in October) each starting multiple games. While Flacco has played admirably since switching clubs in the AFC North, a porous defense has left the Bengals in yet another hole to climb out of as they likely need to win their remaining games to have a chance at making the playoffs this season.
Such a scenario is more likely, however, with Burrow under center and the Bengals facing the Ravens (currently tied with the Steelers for the division lead) twice in the next three weeks.
Burrow opened the practice window on Nov. 10, less than two months after suffering a toe injury that was originally expected to keep him out for at least three months. He then surprisingly logged two full practices last week, taking first-team reps, before returning to limited action Friday before receiving a questionable designation for Cincy’s Week 12 game against the Patriots.