Bengals QB Joe Burrow returned to practice this week after having surgery to repair a turf toe in his left foot. Burrow can be activated anytime during his 21-day window. Head Coach Zac Taylor said Burrow will not play in Week 11 vs. the Steelers.
According to analysis from Pro Football Doc, Dr. David Chao, the Bengals are likely to activate Burrow even if he is not fully ready, noting the team can carry him on the roster for a week while maximizing his practice time. Pro Football Doc said Burrow was still limping during the warm-up portion of practice and continued to favor the injured toe as he moved out of the tunnel.
The injury is to Burrow’s front-foot big toe, which typically allows for a faster recovery timeline compared to injuries involving the back foot, such as the one currently affecting San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy. Burrow is expected to have the toe reinforced with a steel plate and additional padding.
Chao added that Burrow will not be expected to run or extend plays the way he does when fully healthy. Even so, he believes the Bengals would accept a purely pocket-based version of their quarterback if it allows him to return sooner.
Burrow is still limited in mobility, but Chao said he appears close to being able to protect himself well enough to play. Based on the video review, he suggested the timeline may be ahead of what he initially projected, with Burrow trending toward a return in November rather than December.
Want more expert injury insights?
Sign up for a free account and newsletter at Sports Injury Central
👉 Try our proven winning ratings, projections and picks cashing at 73% on 3-Star Spreads this season.
For NFL Week 11 we have a GUARANTEED WINNING 3-STAR PICK - sign up, follow our picks and win.
New weekly SIC Picks subscriptions only.
WANT TO KNOW WHO TO BET ON THE NFL? - USE SIC PICKS FOR PROVEN WINNING PICKS CASHING AT 56.5% ON SPREADS OVER SIX YEARS!
SIC PICKS ARE BASED ON INSIDER INJURY KNOWLEDGE FROM FORMER PRO SPORTS TEAM DOCTORS TO GIVE YOU A WINNING EDGE IN SPORTS BETTING!
SIC PICKS are powered by the proven SIC Score algorithms from our exclusive panel of former Pro Sports Team doctors to give you a sports betting edge. Each day our team of doctors analyze the players and teams and share their expert insights to help you make informed bets on the biggest unknown to sportsbooks and sports bettors - player health and injuries!
For our Best Bets including spreads, totals, props and live in game with instant alerts as game day opportunities arise with research notes, sign up to SIC Picks here for less than $2 a day on an annual plan.
Sign up to SIC Picks today to get our picks sent direct to your cell!
