Joe Burrow Back in Action? Bengals QB Completes Full Practice Ahead of Patriots Clash

Joe Burrow has been practicing with the Cincinnati Bengals throughout this week as he gets set to return to play football.

Joe Burrow Back in Action? Bengals QB Completes Full Practice Ahead of Patriots Clash

Joe Burrow might play in Week 12 (Image via Yahoo Fantasy Sports/X)

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When Joe Burrow went down with a turf toe injury, football fans did not think he would work his way back to return and play this season. After all, such injuries take time to heal.

He underwent surgery, which at the time meant he would take 3 whole months to be able to walk properly, let alone step on a football practice field and air some footballs to his teammates.

The 28-year-old surprised everyone associated with football when, a week ago, he was seen jogging back onto the field. Then it dawned on fans that the Bengals had designated him as returning from Injured Reserve.

That gave him a 21-day window to return to the roster, or forego the season altogether. Now, it seems it will likely be the former, after ESPN’s Adam Schefter shared the franchise’s latest injury report.

From the list of players, current starting quarterback Joe Flacco is listed as a limited participant, as he is nursing an injury to his right shoulder. The other quarterback, whose name also happens to be Joe, was listed a couple of lines above Flacco.

The Bengals placed the ‘Full’ moniker beside him, indicating that Burrow went through the entire practice. Generally, when a player has completed a full practice, it means they are ready to play the upcoming game, unless they suffer another injury.

These reports are monitored, referred to, and vetted by league officials until a few hours before the game. It seems all inclinations point towards the superstar quarterback playing in their upcoming game against the New England Patriots.

Dan Orlovsky believes Joe Burrow will start against Patriots

Even though all signs indicate that Joe Burrow will likely play in Week 12, some are still wondering if it is alright medically to throw him in the fire. Dan Orlovsky had an opinion:

He is gonna start. I mean, there’s no way he’s practicing fully today if he’s not gonna start on Sunday… Is it smart?… There are in desperate times… If Joe wants to play, and he feels he’s going to be able to play, and the medical staff says he’s capable, I would fully expect him to be the starter.

Dan Orlovsky said on NFL Live

The former Detroit Lions quarterback believes as a competitor, the Bengals QB would do anything he could to play. Now, if the medical staff gives him the go-ahead, there is no way he is not starting.

Orlovsky did throw caution to the wind, especially when it comes to the franchise’s ability to make something out of it. But agreed that Burrow would at least like to give it a shot.

Joe Burrow and Bengals are in must-win situation

While speaking to the media after 2 months out, Joe Burrow detailed how, mathematically, the Bengals are not out of playoff contention. Then they lost to the Steelers this past week.

Joe Burrow and his fellow Bengals QBs during practice
Joe Burrow and his fellow Bengals QBs during practice (Image via Mike Petraglia/X)

That sent them down to 12th in the AFC, with a 3-7 record. Their next 5 games are against conference opponents, with two of them against AFC North rivals, the Baltimore Ravens.

If they are to win the division, as Burrow mentioned during that press conference, the Bengals have to win every game they contest from here on out.

But all that effort could go to waste if they do not handle matters against the New England Patriots. A loss to the 2nd-best team in the conference could drop the Bengals out of mathematical possibilities, effectively ending their season.

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