The 2025 NFL season has not gone as planned for Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. Burrow has only played in five games this season, as he suffered a turf toe injury back in Week 2 which kept him sidelined for nearly three months.
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With three games to go entering Week 16, the Bengals own a record of 4-10 and have been eliminated from playoff contention. Despite the underwhelming season and Burrow's continued struggles with the injury bug, the Bengals don't have any plans of shutting Burrow down at this point in time.
Bengals expect Burrow to play the final three weeks of the NFL season
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor announced the team's decision to play Burrow the rest of the way in a press conference on Monday. “Because we want to win,” Taylor said during Monday’s press conference, via NBC’s Pro Football Talk.
The decision is the opposite of what the Washington Commanders have opted to do with former LSU star Jayden Daniels. Like Burrow, Daniels has missed significant time this season dealing with a plethora of injuries, and most recently aggravated his elbow injury this past weekend against the Giants. The Commanders have also been eliminated from playoff contention, and Washington has made the decision to shut Daniels down for the final three weeks of the regular season.
Burrow's turf toe injury in Week 2 set the Bengals' season off the rails early on. After starting 2-0 with Burrow in Weeks 1 and 2, the Bengals went a measly 1-8 without him. Burrow returned in Week 13 to lead Cincinnati to a 32-14 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Thanksgiving. However, the Bengals have now dropped back-to-back games with Burrow throwing as many touchdowns as interceptions (4) over the last two weeks.
Burrow and company are back in action on Sunday, as they visit Miami to take on Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins. Kick-off is set for 1:00 p.m. ET.