Bengals Coach: Joe Burrow “Ready to Go” for Thursday Night Return

Quarterback’s return boosts Bengals, but team still missing Higgins and Hendrickson

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor is all smiles these days, and who can blame him? According to ESPN, Taylor expects quarterback Joe Burrow to suit up for Thursday night’s showdown against the Baltimore Ravens. Burrow has been nursing a turf toe injury since September, but Taylor’s confidence is contagious: “He looks in good shape right now and will be ready to go,” he said. If that’s not music to Bengals fans’ ears, I don’t know what is.

Burrow was a full participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday last week, only dialing it back a notch on Friday. In the Bengals’ last outing, it was Joe Flacco who took the reins at quarterback during a 26-20 loss to the New England Patriots. If Burrow gets the green light, Flacco will slide back into his familiar backup role—no hard feelings, just the way the cookie crumbles in the NFL.

Of course, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows in Cincinnati. The Bengals will be without wide receiver Tee Higgins, who’s sidelined with a concussion, and pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who’s been out with a hip injury for the last three games. Their absence will be felt—like missing two key ingredients in your grandma’s secret chili recipe—especially against a tough Ravens squad.

With Burrow likely returning, the Bengals’ offense could find its spark again, but the team will have to adapt without Higgins and Hendrickson. Coach Taylor remains optimistic, holding onto hope like a fan clutching a lucky rabbit’s foot, but the final lineup will come down to the wire, depending on who’s healthy at kickoff.