The Cincinnati Bengals have been without star quarterback Joe Burrow since Week 2. Burrow suffered a turf toe injury that was expected to sideline him for the majority of the season.
The Bengals tried to hand the reins to backup quarterback Jake Browning, and while he led them to a comeback win in Week 2, he couldn't sustain that momentum. Cincinnati then turned to veteran quarterback Joe Flacco in a trade with the Cleveland Browns.
Flacco has had mixed results with the Bengals. He led them to a 33-31 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, but has otherwise suffered three losses at the helm. This has many wondering if/when Burrow will return.
The Bengals' quarterback opened Week 11 with his first practice appearance since the injury, and Cincinnati has designated him to return from injured reserve (IR).
Here is more on when Burrow is expected back and what his designation to return from IR means.
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Is Joe Burrow coming back this season?
Burrow is still expected to return in the 2025 season, barring a setback. Turf Toe injuries can be easily re-injured, so the Bengals have been careful with having him return too fast.
When will Joe Burrow come back?
Burrow told analyst Jay Glazer that he expects to be back by Thanksgiving. That would be Week 12. With Cincinnati opening the 21-day practice window, Burrow must be activated from injured reserve by Dec. 1. If he isn't, he will be forced to return to IR and his season will be over.
What happened to Joe Burrow?
Burrow's injury occurred in Week 2 when the Bengals were playing the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was trying to move up in the pocket, but was tackled from behind and fell forward awkwardly. During the play, he suffered a foot injury that is commonly called "turf toe," and it effected his ability to push off the ground.
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Joe Burrow turf toe recovery
Like most injuries, there are various grades to turf toe. A Grade 1 injury will take about two to four weeks to recover from. A Grade 2 injury would be four to six weeks, and a grade three could be between six and 12 weeks or longer. Turf toe can even require surgery if severe enough, like Burrow's did. The Bengals quarterback suffered a Grade 3 turf toe injury, per reports.