Sports

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is questionable for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots, head coach Zac Taylor said Friday. The Bengals have until 4 PM ET on Saturday to activate Joe Burrow to the 53-man roster.

Burrow has missed the last eight weeks after being placed on injured reserve with a turf toe injury he suffered in Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. In his first two starts, Burrow threw for 189 yards and two touchdowns.

Despite Burrow's estimated recovery time being three months, head coach Zac Taylor declined to rule his quarterback out for the season. The Bengals designated Burrow for return from injured reserve on November 10. While Burrow was targeting a Week 13 return, he began practicing fully and started taking snaps with the starting offense, leaving the possibility of playing this week open.

The Bengals have struggled in Burrow's absence, going 1-7 in the games he has missed. Taylor initially replaced Burrow with Jake Browning. After Browning went 0-3 in his starts, failed to throw for 150 yards in two games and threw eight interceptions, it was time for Taylor to make a change.

In October, the Bengals traded a 2026 fifth-round pick to acquire Joe Flacco and a 2026 sixth-round pick from their divisional rivals, the Cleveland Browns. Flacco started the same week as the trade, with just four days to prepare. He has thrown for 1,453 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions with Cincinnati this season.

Flacco is coming off arguably his worst game as a Bengal against the Steelers in Week 11. He completed 23 of 40 passes for 199 yards, one touchdown and a pick six. The 40-year-old quarterback is dealing with a shoulder injury that has limited him in practice this week.

Despite Flacco's low turnover rate, the team has continued to struggle, especially on defense, yielding a 1-4 record with Flacco as a starter. The defense has not made it easier on the offense. The Bengals have allowed a league high 334 points to opponents through 10 games this season and are tied for allowing a league high 6.3 yards per play.

Whichever quarterback starts will be without their top pass catcher. Ja'Marr Chase will be serving his one-game suspension for spitting on Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey. Chase is first in the league with 79 receptions despite playing with three different quarterbacks.

While the Bengals have struggled, the 9-2 Patriots are surging. The Patriots are on the longest current winning streak, having won the last eight games.