Is Joe Burrow’s return too little, too late for the Bengals?

Mack Baltes

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Is Joe Burrow’s return too little, too late for the Bengals? image

Bengals fans across the country had reason to celebrate Wednesday when star quarterback Joe Burrow returned as a full participant in practice. Burrow has been sidelined since Week 2 with a turf toe injury, and as recently as last week there was speculation that his return might not come until Cincinnati’s Thanksgiving matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. With his return to practice, Burrow now has a legitimate chance to take the field Sunday against the New England Patriots.

Cincinnati has not confirmed whether Burrow will start, but his potential return raises a pressing question: Is it coming too late to salvage the season? The Bengals sit at 3-7, third in the AFC North, trailing Baltimore by two games and Pittsburgh by three. A win over the Steelers last Sunday would have tightened the division race, but instead, Cincinnati’s slide continued. The team has now dropped seven of its last eight.

The road ahead only gets tougher. Cincinnati's next four games include the Patriots (9-2), the Buffalo Bills (7-3) and two meetings with the 5-5 Ravens. If the Bengals want to climb back into the playoff picture, they’ll need a dramatic turnaround against some of the league’s top competition.

Fans can’t help but think about the missed opportunities that contributed to this hole. Close losses to the Jets and Bears stand out, but the front office’s handling of the backup quarterback position is also fair game. Had Cincinnati traded for Joe Flacco earlier in Burrow’s absence, it’s possible the Bengals could have avoided dropping three straight with Jake Browning under center.

Now three games behind the final AFC wild-card spot entering Week 12, Cincinnati’s postseason hopes rest largely on Burrow’s ability to spark an immediate turnaround.

Is Joe Burrow’s return too little, too late for the Bengals?

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