Joe Burrow injury update: Adam Schefter previews potential availability of Bengals QB

Joe Burrow was once thought to be lost for the season in Cincinnati. But over the past few weeks, it now looks like he might only end up missing more like two months for the Bengals.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter updated with the latest on Burrow’s status while on ‘Get Up’ on Thursday morning. He noted the respective designations at practice yesterday, with Burrow being a full participant and Joe Flacco being a limited one, as a hint about who could be back as soon as this weekend for Cincy. However, Schefter added that some additional things need to be evaluated if he is going to be able to actually play against the New England Patriots come kickoff in Week 12.

“The big story on Wednesday was the Bengals listing Joe Burrow as a full participant in practice. Not only was Burrow a full participant, but the man who has replaced him, Joe Flacco, was listed as a limited participant due to the fact that he’s dealing with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder,” Schefter said. “So, if the starting quarterback in Joe Burrow is a full participant, and the backup is a limited participant, that would lead you to believe that there’s a chance on Sunday that Joe Burrow will be the full-time starter, and Joe Flacco will be the backup. But, I think there’s some questions that they have to get through today and tomorrow, to see whether or not that can happen and Burrow is healthy enough to start on Sunday.”

Dealing with turf toe coming out of Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Burrow was previously thought to be done for at least almost all of the remainder of this season, if not already done for the year. He even had surgery on the injury back on September 19th. However, he returned to practice in a limited capacity early last week to try to come off of injured reserve.

Reporting suggested that the divisional matchup next week on Thanksgiving against the Baltimore Ravens was a target date for Burrow. Yesterday’s news, though, that he was back at practice in full could make him available even a week earlier than that, which could make for quite the quick comeback by the Bengals’ QB.

That sudden return could now have a massive effect all around for the final seven weeks of the season in the NFL. It’d obviously be big for Cincinnati (3-7), in need of some reinvigoration having lost seven of eight in his absence the past nine weeks, but could also impact the rest of the AFC with games the next four weeks against the Patriots, the Ravens twice, and the Bills.

“I wonder if, with Burrow’s return, whether it’s this week or next week, and it’s starting to look like this week is in play, would elevate the 32nd-ranked defense? Whether the return of Burrow would provide some sort of spark to make the defense the 28th-rated unit, as opposed to 32nd? But the offense is going to be great,” Schefter said. “And, again, his return would impact the Bengals trying to stay alive.

“It would impact the Patriots on Sunday, who are trying to stave off the Buffalo Bills. It could potentially impact the Buffalo Bills, should he play in two weeks, as they try to catch the Patriots in the AFC East. So, there are a couple of ramifications to Burrow potentially being back on Sunday.”

There’s no certainty yet that Burrow takes the field back this weekend against the Pats. But, whether this week or in one still to come this season, it sounds as though it may not be too long for Cincinnati’s quarterback.