Cincinnati Bengals received a massive boost today as star quarterback Joe Burrow returned to training, just two months after undergoing surgery on his toe.
Road to Recovery
The NFL quarterback hasn't played since suffering a grade 3 toe injury during week 2 of the current season. Despite this setback, Burrow's recovery has progressed well, putting him on track for a potential December comeback.
Burrow will be limited in practice initially, but the Bengals have activated his 21-day practice window. This means the team now has three weeks to decide whether to move him from the Injured Reserve list back to the active roster.
Season in Turmoil
When Burrow was sidelined for surgery, the Bengals held a perfect 2-0 record. The quarterback acknowledged the emotional blow on social media, posting: 'This game will break your heart. See you soon.'
His absence triggered a dramatic collapse. In week 3, Cincinnati suffered their worst franchise defeat in history, a 48-10 thrashing by Minnesota Vikings with Jake Browning at quarterback.
Browning continued through weeks 4 and 5, recording losses against Broncos (28-3) and Lions (37-24) before the team turned to veteran Joe Flacco.
Playoff Hopes Dwindling
The Bengals' current situation looks bleak with a 3-6 season record following Flacco's mixed results. The 40-year-old secured his first win against Steelers but then suffered consecutive defeats against Jets and Bears.
Interestingly, Flacco has performed impressively despite the losses, with the Bengals' defence proving to be the main weakness in recent weeks.
The team now hopes Flacco can keep their diminishing playoff hopes alive until Burrow's crucial return, which could happen as early as mid-December.
This isn't the first time Burrow has faced significant injury setbacks. Just two years ago, he missed the final seven games of the 2023 season due to a wrist injury. His rookie season in 2020 also ended prematurely after he tore his ACL, PCL, MCL and meniscus.
