Will Joe Burrow Play This Week? Latest Injury Update & Week 12 Prediction vs. Patriots

Will Joe Burrow play this week? That felt like a long shot for the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback entering NFL Week 12. But after the former All-Pro passer returned to practice in full this week, he's trending toward playing Sunday against the New England Patriots for the first time since Week 2.

Below, we break down the latest Joe Burrow injury update and offer our NFL predictions and best bet for the Bengals QB if he returns this week:

🤔 Joe Burrow injury update: Will he play in NFL Week 12?

See all of our experts' NFL picks for Week 12 based on the latest NFL odds.

When Burrow suffered a turf toe injury in a Week 2 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, he was expected to miss three months with a potential return late in the regular season if the Bengals' playoff hopes were still alive.

That was just over two months ago, and Cincinnati (3-7) has lost seven of eight games with Jake Browning and Joe Flacco splitting snaps under center. Yet it sure looks like Burrow is determined to beat the initial timeline and return this week to face the AFC-leading Patriots (9-2).

Burrow was a full participant in practice on Wednesday for the first time since the initial injury, and he practiced in full on Thursday, too. Head coach Zac Taylor then told the media Burrow is "questionable" to start on Sunday - a common designation for players who could legitimately go either way ahead of kickoff.

It's anyone's guess whether Burrow will be ready to go on Sunday, though his full participation in practice and comments from his teammates - including Tee Higgins, who said Burrow gave him a "good look" when asked if he'd play this week - have fans hopeful for a potential return.

The market is expecting Burrow to take the field this weekend, too. Some of the best sports betting sites are offering player props for Burrow, which are typically only posted for players who are expected to play, and Kalshi is listing Burrow with a 61% chance to play as of early afternoon on Friday.

💰 Best bet & prediction for Burrow vs. Patriots

Search the best NFL player prop odds for any team or player across every market from legal sportsbooks in your area.

It's easy to forget amid the hysteria of Burrow's potential return, but the Bengals QB wasn't exactly lighting it up when he played earlier this season. And his replacements haven't been faring much better behind the Bengals' beleaguered offensive line.

Burrow completed just 14 of 23 passes for 113 yards and a touchdown in his season debut against the Cleveland Browns, and he went 7-for-13 for 76 yards and a score before going down against the Jaguars. After Browning's disastrous tenure in relief, Cincinnati traded for Flacco, who has averaged 290.6 passing yards on 42.6 attempts in five games as a starter.

If Burrow starts on Sunday, I'd be absolutely shocked if he's slinging it 40-plus times in his first game back from yet another lengthy absence. A series of injuries have been derailing Burrow's otherwise brilliant career, and the Bengals' chances of winning beyond this season rely on their franchise pillar remaining upright beyond this week.

That's why I'm taking the Under on Burrow's pass attempts, which is set as high as 35.5 with generous -105 odds for those fading that lofty total. While the Bengals' offense is built around a high-volume passing attack, I just can't see Burrow dropping back more than 35 times in a 60-minute game after 10 weeks away.

Best bet: Joe Burrow Under 35.5 pass attempts (-105 via BetMGM)

📺 How to watch Patriots vs. Bengals

• Date: Sunday, Nov. 23
• Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET
• Location: Paycor Stadium (Cincinnati)
• TV: CBS