CINCINNATI (AP) — Joe Burrow returned to practice with the Bengals on Monday, opening the 21-day window for the franchise quarterback to return to the lineup.
His practice time will not count against the 53-player active roster. Burrow is eligible to be activated during the three-week window.
However, coach Zac Taylor said Burrow would not return for Sunday's game at Pittsburgh. The Bengals (3-6) have lost six of seven since Burrow suffered a toe injury
in mid-September that required surgery.
“I think he's at a good point. He's worked hard to get to this point to get back on the field in a limited form,” Taylor said before Monday's practice.
Burrow will work with some of the receivers but won't participate in 11-on-11 drills until possibly next week.
Initial estimates had the sixth-year quarterback missing up to three months, but he could possibly be under center on Nov. 23 when the Bengals host New England or four days later, when Cincinnati travels to Baltimore for a Thanksgiving night game.
Burrow underwent surgery on his left toe on Sept. 19, five days after he suffered the injury during the second-quarter of Cincinnati's 31-27 victory over Jacksonville.
It was Burrow’s third major injury in his six seasons since being the top overall pick in the 2020 draft.
The offense struggled in the first three games after Burrow's injury with Jake Browning at the helm. But things have been better since the Bengals acquired Joe Flacco from the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 9.
Flacco is averaging a league-high 313.5 passing yards over his four starts for the Bengals.
The defense has been primarily to blame for Cincinnati's last two losses. The Bengals blew a 15-point fourth-quarter lead in a 39-38 loss to the New York Jets on Oct. 26 and then allowed Chicago's Caleb Williams to connect with Colston Loveland for a 58-yard touchdown with 17 seconds left in a 47-42 loss to the Bears on Nov. 2.
Cincinnati became the first team since the 1966 New York Giants to score at least 38 points in consecutive games and lose both.
Taylor also said defensive end Trey Hendrickson is doubtful to return this week. The All-Pro pass rusher has missed two of the last three games with a hip injury.
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