Will Joe Burrow be back in December? Latest injury update, return timeline for Bengals QB

The Cincinnati Bengals' 2025 season was dealt a significant blow in Week 2 when quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a toe injury that has kept him out since.

Burrow was diagnosed with a Grade 3 turf toe injury that is expected to sideline him for a significant amount of time, and at least three months, to be exact. That means Burrow could make it back by mid-December if all goes well.

While Burrow has been sidelined, the Bengals briefly lost all hope for the campaign after Jake Browning struggled in Burrow's stead. However, the trade for Joe Flacco, who has played well in two games, has revived Cincinnati's hopes.

That said, no matter how well Flacco plays, the Bengals' hopes of making noise in the playoffs rest solely on Burrow's injured toe. Here's the latest injury update on the Bengals' superstar quarterback.

Will Joe Burrow be back in December?

The latest injury update we've seen comes from NFL insider Jordan Schultz, who noted that Burrow's rehab is going well and a return in mid-December remains a possibility.

"If they beat the Jets and they go to 4-4, with the way the AFC North is shaping up, the way that Joe Burrow is rehabbing, which from everything I've been told is going excellent, meaning he could be back mid-December, it would be very sensible for Cincinnati to add another player at the deadline," Schultz said.

This echoes a previous report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

"He is on track (and) doing well, has had no setbacks" Rapoport said of the Bengals quarterback. "Which means, if this continues in this direction, he should be back on the field mid-December and has told people close to him he absolutely intends to be back, just need the team to stay alive until then." 

A mid-December return puts Burrow in play for Week 15 against the Baltimore Ravens, at the earliest, which would give him four games before the playoffs.

If the Bengals can stay right around .500 until Burrow gets back, Cincinnati can make a late push to secure its postseason spot.

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