Credits: Phil Didion/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Bengals Rule Out Joe Burrow vs. Patriots – QB Not Activated for Week 12

Credits: Phil Didion/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has been sidelined since Week 2 with a severe turf toe injury suffered against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The injury, which required surgery, was initially expected to keep the two-time Pro Bowler out well into November or possibly longer. For ten Weeks, Burrow has remained out on injury reserve, watching his team stumble to a 3-7 record while backup Joe Flacco has started the last five games.

Hope flickered this week when Burrow returned to practice. He was a participant on both Wednesday and Thursday before being limited on Friday, strong signs that raised genuine speculation about an earlier-than-expected comeback. Reps with the first-team offense, no reported setbacks, made us believe that he’ll be back in action in Week 12. Most analysts still projected his in December, making Friday’s “questionable” tag on the injury report genuinely surprising and sparking talk that Cincinnati might actually have its franchise QB back for Sunday’s game against New England.

Joe Burrow Officially Ruled Out vs. Patriots in Week 12

That hope was extinguished Saturday. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Burrow will not be activated from injured reserve by the 4:00 p.m. ET deadline and will miss his tenth straight game. Joe Flacco will make his sixth consecutive star when the Bengals host the 9-2 Patriots on Sunday.

Bengals are not activating QB Joe Burrow by today’s 4 pm deadline, meaning he will be unable to play Sunday, per source. His debut will have to wait another week until Thanksgiving night against Baltimore.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 22, 2025

Head coach Zac Taylor praised Burrow’s effort saying, “He’s done everything he can physically” but cited the brutal upcoming schedule as the deciding factor. Cincinnati plays New England on Sunday and then turn around for a Thanksgiving night showdown against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens just four days later. Taylor stressed the need to protect Burrow’s long-term health after such a lengthy layoff while acknowledging the short week made starting him risky.

Return vs. Ravens Likely Too Little, Too Late?

Burrow is now pointing toward a potential return on Thanksgiving against the Ravens, but even that feels optimistic for 3-7 Bengals team that has lost seven of its eight games. Cincinnati sits last in the AFC North and would need an extraordinary finishing run and plenty of help, to sneak into the postseason.

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While getting their star QB back would obviously help, the margin for error is essentially gone. For a franchise that started the season with playoff expectations, with a 2-0 start, holding Burrow out one more week may be the prudent move medically, but it also underscores how far the 2025 campaign has already slipped away.

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I cover the National Football League and things cannot get better than that. I always dreamed to play football or basketball professionally since I’m built like a Running Back. But now that I can’t, since I’m technically in the “Unc” age, I thought why not pick a career in sports industry? So here I am, doing what I love, and hoping that the Commanders win the Super Bowl. I give love to players when it’s due, but can be critical about their performances at the same time. Enough about me, now let my articles do all the talking.