Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - Why Joe Burrow COULD return against New England Patriots THIS WEEK!

Episode Date: November 20, 2025

Zac Taylor turned down multiple opportunities to rule Joe Burrow out for the Cincinnati Bengals' Week 12 matchup with the New England Patriots, then Burrow went "full" for the Bengals' Wednesday practice. That raised our eyebrows. Jake Liscow and James Rapien break down why Burrow would come back this week, the pros and cons of his return now instead of later, and how much of a difference he makes for a team with a fatal flaw on defense against Drake Maye and the surging Patriots.Join the Locked On Bengals Insider Community! https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonbengalsFind and follow Locked On Bengals on your favorite podcast platforms:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/locked-on-bengals-daily-podcast-on-the-cincinnati-bengals/id1159723162Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7AObc0lh0WmQl5fJVgtajsGoogle Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vbG9ja2Vkb25iZW5nYWxz?sa=X&ved=0CAYQrrcFahcKEwio_sXtj8nuAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAgStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/locked-on-bengalsSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!PelotonLet yourself run, lift, flex, and push forward. Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ today at https://www.onepeloton.com.PrizePicksDownload the PrizePicks app today and use code LOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup.Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFLGametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelRight now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Zach Taylor is just refusing to rule Joe Burrow out. Is he going to return against a Patriots? Let's break down the pros and cons in today's Locked on Bengals. You are Locked on Bengals, your daily Cincinnati Bengals podcast. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. What on Bengals fans? Welcome to another episode of the Locked on Bengals podcast, part of the Locked on podcast network. now the number one sports podcast network out there.

I'm Jake Lusco. He's James Rupin, and together we are locked on Bengals, covering your Cincinnati Bengals since 2016, your best place to get all of your Bengals information in one stop anywhere. And today we dive into the potential return of Joe Burrow, the amount of smoke building around Zach Taylor making media appearances, not saying no. when asked if Joe Burrow would return this week and he was a full go in practice on Wednesday,

further stoking those speculative flames. That's where we start in that whole conversation. And then there are pros and cons and a Patriots matchup that is certainly going to be difficult, even if Joe Burrow is out there for the Bengals this week. But James, it started with the press conference. for Zach Taylor on Wednesday. And I joked about this. It was, it was 95% a joke on Monday about like, maybe he comes back this week. And now here we are. And I should not have been so significantly joking about that topic apparently on Monday. You shouldn't have. And for those that listened to

our crossover yesterday, I didn't want to beat the dead horse, but I mentioned it a few times with Nick of Locked on Patriots because I thought this might be a topic. Like I thought, because the more you think about it and the more you think about Joe Burrow, and I think I, at this point, year six of covering Joe Burrow,

you at least have an idea of how he thinks. You've gone through these injuries with him before. I remember telling him without really any, it's not like he told me. I told him like, hey, this is what I think you're going to return from the calf injury a few years ago. And he was like,

you might be close on that. And it was literally dead on. And it was you and I, talked about it. And it's just you can kind of read the tea leaves. And I think that'll come up in our potential cons is that history of what happened with the calf and everything that went with that. But given where they are, given their situation, if you're Joe Burrow, don't you want to be playing for something? And everyone has dismissed the Bengals already. And you and I both, we don't think they're going to the playoffs. That Latin vacation is very much alive for Jake.

let's go. Like we know that. Sponsor it right now so he can podcast on the road in mid-January from wherever he wants to go. Maybe I'll go with you. But if if they were going to go on this improbable run, this fairy tale run, this Disney movie type of run, it would have to start on Sunday. It can't start in Baltimore now. It has to start Sunday. His team, his coaching staff, they didn't give him enough rope, enough room to maneuver to wait until the end of his return window and be activated December 1st if he wants to play for something meaningful. And so coming into this week, I think it was very clear and indicative of the fact that Zach Taylor didn't dismiss the idea when he talked before practice said, hey, we haven't seen him practice yet, but he didn't say Joe Flacko is starting. And then two,

Joe Burrow goes out there, practices in full, Flacco limited. That was by design. Flacco was going to be limited. I think Thursday we're recording this before Thursday's practice. I think the juggle there is going to be interesting. And then, and I have audio here. Jake, you didn't know about this. I have audio.

Zach Taylor shows up on 700 WLW as he does every Thursday. And he talks with Tom Brennam, and my guy, Andrew Fox Miller, chop this up for us, 50 seconds of Zach Taylor going back and forth about Joe Burrough's status with Tom Brennam. a chance that he plays Sunday? I'm not there yet. You know, it's one day of practice.

Isn't going to lead to that decision yet. So we'll use the time we have at our disposal and come with the best decision we can. You have to make a decision, and you'll consult with others. But will this be a situation where Joe might come into you, Joe Burrow? He might come to you and say, hey, you know, coach, I feel like I'm ready to go. Oh, yeah. Yeah, and then that's my job, you know, to balance. balance all the information and protect the player and make the best decision possible.

You can tell us right now. Burroughs playing, he's playing. Yeah, no, I wish I could. I wish I had that decision today, you know, honestly. I'm going to take in all the information I can and make sure it's the best one for Joe and our team and we'll go from there. So undecided Zach Taylor there, right? Still processing information, but certainly once again had an opportunity to say, we saw him practice once and we think it's going to take a couple more days.

Didn't take that opportunity to shut down the speculation, which means the speculation will continue until we get an answer. Yeah, that's it. And I think we'll get into the pros and cons, like we've said a few times. But I think surface level, I understand why Joe would be pushing now. And here's the other thing that we just need to accept at this point. Joe Burrow is going to play again this season. He will play again. It's like it's over.

Like there's no reason to debate it because it's going to happen. He's practicing in full. He's out there. Like it will happen. And so it's really when? When is it? Is it Sunday? Is it Thursday?

Is it the following Sunday in Buffalo? It will be one of those three dates, barring something really unforeseen. The Bengals know it. Joe Burrow knows it. whether or not it'll be this Sunday, I think, is the debate now. And what does that mean for their chances to even win the game? I think that's part of the conversation too. Like, it's a boost.

Don't get me wrong. We've talked about this a couple times. Joe Burroughs better than Joe Flacco. Yeah. But now you're talking about a team that's not going to have Demar Chase and still has all these problems on the defensive side of the ball. And that's what you're talking about. And it puts the Jamar thing, incident, suspension,

in an entirely new light if it's like, there's a chance Joe Burrow is going to get back the next week against a Patriot and now you don't have Jamar's face for this game. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And it just makes it so much, like, you just can't even get anything to go quite right for you this year. But going back to the return and the idea of why it would have to be this week or why Joe Burrow might be feeling pressure for it to be this week,

despite, we don't know whether that toe is 90%, 80%. We have no idea where he's at in the recovery, right? We do know that he's talked about wearing a plate in his shoe, protective footwear. Sneaker heads have told me that he's wearing different cleats and isn't wearing the same shoes that he was wearing before, which maybe you can comment on too, James.

I don't know. I'm not paying that much close attention to Joe's shoes. But they had all these changes. to buy themselves a little bit of wiggle room. And maybe Joe has a different mindset if they had won against the Jets and or bears or just one more game. If Jake Browning doesn't do what Jake Browning did for three games and they sneak one out against Minnesota or whatever, they get Joe Flacko a week earlier or something like that and manage to win a game sometime in there. if they're two wins better, if they're five and five right now instead of three and seven, how different does this whole conversation feel?

How different does Joe Burrow feel about the pressure to return? And how much of a factor? Remember when Joe Burrow said, we'll see how the team does the next couple of weeks. Yep. Well, maybe what that really meant, and now it's looking more that way is like, well, if they lose, I might have to just come back a little bit earlier and give myself a shot at this thing. Yeah. And I think I think I have the answer.

What if they were five and five going into Sunday? I will share that answer and we'll dive into the pros and cons of Joe Burrow coming back potentially as early as Sunday coming up next. Today's show is brought to you by prize picks. Prize picks is daily fantasy the way it should be. You and I make decisions every day. Joe Burrow makes decisions. Well, being right with prize picks can get you paid.

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Let's say Joe Burrow does play this week. Boom, you pick more or less on his prize picks projections for passing yards, passing touchdowns. Maybe combine that with a little T. Higgins, more or less receiving yards or receiving touchdowns. By the way, if T. Higgins scores a touchdown on Sunday, Jake, it will be a record, a Bengals record. I believe it's his ninth straight home game.

with a touchdown. If he can get it done, all you have to do to get in on all the fun is download the Price Picks app today. Use Code Locked on NFL. You'll get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. Again, that's Code Locked on NFL for $50 in lineups after your first $5 lineup prize picks. It's good to be right. Jake, let's get into if they were 5 and 5 right now. I think if they were 5 and 5 or even 4 and 6, let's just say they win the Jets game. Joe probably waits until Thursday night. You saw his face light up last week when Jay Morrison asked, hey, how meaningful would it be to come back for Baltimore? And so I think that was his target all along, clearly.

I think he will play Thursday night. I think worst case scenario, Joe is on the field Thursday night. And here's why I would play him Sunday. And I'm pretty much in the boat of not playing him, period, right? But they are going to. So I, like if they're going to play him period, in probably, Thursday period. I'm pretty confident in that right now. Here's why I would play him a few days early. There's no difference. They do nothing from Sunday to Thursday. He's not going to get one valuable

practice rep. He's not going to get any extra anything. The Tuesday practice that they have is the easiest walkthrough ever that you could fly. You could take a red eye from where you are. And it's like two flights, four helicopter rides, a ferry ride and a bunch of other stuff to get from the island you're at to where I'm at here in Cincinnati, and you could do all of that, go straight to this walk through that they're going to have Tuesday and participate and be fine. It is a nothing burger. And so as long as they think he can recover from a health standpoint from Sunday to Thursday, which I don't think that would be in doubt. Otherwise, he wouldn't be considering playing. Then you might as well give him a shot to salvage the season. You might as well give him that

opportunity because I do think at this point, they won't say it, but I can. I think it's inevitable that he is playing against Baltimore. And if that's the case, and he's good to go, and he is throwing the ball well in 11 on 11, and he is, and all of the limitations that he's going to have Thursday when you bring him back,

he's going to, it's going to be the same on Sunday. I would put him out there Sunday with a chance to get to 5 and 7 in a 4.5 day span. That's me, if you were doing it, if you have resigned yourself to, I'm playing Joe Burrow, he's playing well then you the four days to me does not make any difference and i haven't found anyone that is really pushed back on that i talked to a few players on wednesday like hey if you play

sunday and you're dealing with something you're going to be all right by thursday and like mike gisickey's another example of it and i and i think they all view it as if i can play i'll play and i'll be able to get back for that thursday game and be right for that thursday game The only thing I would say, and this is a total unknown, is how much healing can happen in four extra days, from Sunday afternoon to Thursday night, how much additional healing, what percentage, if he is, say, at 87% now, how many percent, just to make it easier to understand? How many percent do you get in four days?

Does it get to 90 percent? Does it get to 92%? Does it go from 93% to 96%. That's my question essentially is, how much does four extra days of treatment and rehab and not being in a game setting where I'm sure they're doing plenty to try to simulate the reactions and force that will go through that joint in practices and in Joe's rehab to see how it will react. none of those things are going to exactly replicate a game situation where maybe there's a 300-pound man holding his other leg or whatever it is. Sure. Like he injured it the first time. And I know that they've got the protective stuff an issue.

But the thing to me entirely boils down to how risky is it. And the thing with turf toe is I don't think doctors ever know, which is why you see guys come back from this and aggravate this injury all the time. And I'm not saying this to fearmonger. I have no idea what Joe's risk of re-injury is. But it's really hard. It seems really hard to me from the outside looking at the history of this injury around the league for guys to return from this injury at a time and really have an understanding of what their risk of re-injury is. And so absent all that information, that's just like, well, I think I'll be okay. Like it kind of is going to come down to vibes so much and how Joe feels and how confident. he is and obviously the medical information will be a factor here but there's going to be some

version of an educated guess when Joe comes back to the field this year. No doubt. And so that's that's what's so tough. And this is a 180 for me because if you would ask me Sunday, I would have said, don't bring him back. But they just, they are. Well, you still have that opinion, but we know that that's not their plan. Correct. They're going to bring him back. Talk about it in that reality. Yeah. And that's it. It's like, all right, so if that's happening, if he's definitely going to play, let's use your percentages. What if it's 93% to 93.5%. What if four days is really, yeah, exactly. If it's nothing, then. And it might not. To me, and this is me, I don't think it's much because he's not going to do much. It's, it's, because I think that part of the healing process for Joe, especially is feeling

out what he can do and can't do. And there's going to be no practices in there. And again, as unlikely as it is, if you are salvaging your season, because I tried to put myself in his brain, he's probably like five days to go from three and seven to five and seven with two huge wins. And then I can put my foot up and relax for a few days and then get back at it with a huge matchup in Buffalo. Like I think that would be kind of the approach. And I know it's insane to say, like from a football standpoint, point. The team you've watched over the past two plus months going one in seven without Joe Burrow, I'm not trying to lead people down the pike of, oh, I think that Joe is going to do this. Like this would be like a fairy tale superhero, superhero, superhuman, just crazy thing,

especially without Jamar Chase. Kind of like if last year had worked out. Like if they had gotten snuck in last year, that's what we're talking about again this year, except the defense is even worse. And the upcoming opponent, I mean, this month, so you have the nine and two Patriots, arguably the best team in the NFL. And you can debate that, but they won eight straight. Then you go on the road, Baltimore four days later. Then you go to Buffalo. Then you welcome Baltimore here. Like that's a hell of a month. That's why it's so painful losing some of these games I've lost is because this month stretch is brutal. But to your point, the season really ended last year. And we kind of felt it when they, they lost to the Steelers on December 1st to fall to 4 and 8. If they win that game, and instead of 4 and 8, they're 5 and 7, and they keep that loss number at 7, which is where they're at now, they make the playoffs. They go on that run. They complete it. And I don't think Joe has forgotten that, is how well they were playing down the stretch, how close it was. And if they had

just made one or two more plays against Pittsburgh, well, then they win six straight in they're flying high going in to that match. By the way, that would have been two wins over Pittsburgh, which is what they certainly would need to do over this stretch, two wins over Baltimore, two wins over a division rival, one on the road, one at home to do it.

I mean, it's Mount Everest, for sure, with turf toe. But I do think that Joe is going to push to play, whether or not he gets the okay and the sign off from everyone is the question. Yeah. I mean,

the quality of a post. an difference. Certainly worth noting. The defense is, one, worse this year, and two, last year down the stretch, they were playing the Dallas Cowboys, the Tennessee Titans, the Cleveland Browns, the Denver Broncos, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Obviously, the big test there

was Denver, and that Pittsburgh game came down to a 19 to 17 final score, but a Dallas team didn't even have their quarterback. I mean, that's a Cooper Rush game. So a little bit tougher. This, year and one of those games is Thursday night on the road in the division and we've talked a lot

about the history of those matchups the Bengals obviously the third straight year going to Baltimore on Thursday night we complained about that when we saw the schedule it remains a complaint now for the team from a football perspective a competitive advantage perspective but I mean it's going to be that's the TV that they want that's why they put it on Thursday night It will be potentially very dramatic. Now, if they lose against New England, then it becomes a lot less exciting. The ramifications become a little bit smaller for that game.

And it's still a really tough game this weekend because there's no Jamar Chase, because of the state of the defense, because of the way New England is coming into this game, just on fire. And so I think that have we gotten through the pros and cons? we haven't really gotten to the pros and cons yet. I mean, I guess so.

The pros, you can potentially resurrect things in five days, and Joe gives you the best shot to do that. The con is if he re-injures it, it's a nightmare. But I think that con, my argument would be the con is the same on Sunday as it is Thursday. We're not talking about Thursday after Christmas. We're talking about Thursday as in a week from now, from today, you know? wild it's why i know it sucks this season sucks because because like it's exciting and i i think he looked pretty good in practice so it's like oh and then there's just all the caveat so we've been

talking about all season and we have to talk about again that bengal's facing the patriots will they have joe burrow will they not have joe burrow we'll wrap up this show thinking about that game and if there's an announcement about joe burrow we'll have to be back and talking to you about it but We'll continue that conversation here coming up next. Today's show is brought to by Game Time. Game Time, well, it's the app that's going to be perfect for you. Let's say you're like, you know what, if Joe Burrow plays on Sunday, I want to be there. I want to watch the return against the Patriots as he tries to go up against an MVP candidate in Drake May and a team that's won eight in a row.

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Use code locked on NFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Again, that's promo code L-O-C-E-D-O-N-N-FL-L-L-N-FL-L-L-L-F for $20 dollars off. Swipe, tap, ticket, go. Download game time today. Have you been paying attention to the odds of the Bengals Patriots game? Yeah, yeah. It's the lowest that's been all week.

I remember you asked me what I thought it was earlier this week, and I thought it was 10. And what was it seven and a half at that point? What is it now? Have you looked? Is it down to six? I think it's in the six range. Last time I checked Vandal, it was in the six range. I can look here.

I was just amused by a couple of things. One is six and a half. six and a half yep so it's creeping that way over under went up by two i believe yeah the over under is the highest in the NFL this week uh joe burroughs without too large chase yeah um but the bengal's offense has obviously been productive and the patriot's defense is it's not the strength of the team right now although it's it's not terrible by any means it is not the the strength of the team the bengals defense is terrible though. So the beagles are giving up all those points. And this is the best offense they've played since, I don't know, Detroit. And Detroit wasn't exactly tested on

offense in that game. So it could be fireworks in this game. But even if Joe Burrow returns, I mean, how are you stopping an offense that is the best you've faced in quite a while? How does Joe Burrow impact the defense? How does Joe Burrow help this defense deal with Drake May and Trayvion Henderson and Kayshan Booty and Stefan Diggs and Mack Hollins and Hunter Henry and all these guys? I mean, this is an offense that has found production everywhere. And Joe Burrow doesn't help on that side of the ball. Maybe energetically.

He doesn't. But you're really grasping at straws if you're talking about an energetic impact. Geno Stone, I don't think, is going to be bench this week. He should be bench. They should have someone else in there. You're not going to bench the rookie linebackers, but clearly, looking back, they pulled in the young guy, Barrett Carter too soon in my eyes. Maybe we see a little bit more Orrin Berks.

I don't know. They need to see what they have there. Obviously, they activated Dejan Anthony and Mike Gassiki. We'll see if they play this week. I'm not sure. I think Gisicchi has a real shot, to be honest with you. I'm not sure about Dejan. They're so weird at safety.

Like, I don't get it. Like, Tyson Anderson, I don't think this is the case, by the way. But the only excuse they have for not even trying him at safety and giving him some snaps is he can't guard a tree, which I know he can. A tree. Like a tree that can't move. That is it because I know he can tackle. There's some big trees out there, James. That could be a size mismatch.

Yeah, I guess so, right? Like, it's unbelievable that they haven't given any of the, you know, PJ, Julie. Tyson Anderson. Obviously, now you have Dejan Anthony cleared for practice. So we'll see. But that's got to be part of it here is like maybe Geno Stone just plays 60% of the snaps. Maybe you cut into it a little bit. And then on big passing downs, if you trust him more than you put him out there. Like whatever the case is, that should be some of what they tinker with. But you're right. Defensively, they let Mason Rudolph dump it off. and get a bunch of gains and complete 75% of his passes. Now you have a guy in Drake May who's physically better than any of the quarterbacks that you've seen in how long. I mean, he's better than Rogers. He's better than, yeah, probably since Jordan Love, like physically. And even then may have a little bit more to him.

So this is a tough ask, obviously without Trey Hendrickson. And the other thing I'm looking forward to, and hopefully I talked to Miles yesterday, I said, man, that might be your coming out party. you got to keep it up he was like you're right i got to do it again all right brother do it again a big big week for for miles murphy and doing it against harder competition no doubt for will campbell having a standout rookie year especially in past protection at left tackle for the patriots on the other side it's morgan moses who is beatable if you're miles murphy but morgan moses at 36 years old still doing it how many years have we talked about morgan moses as a potential

tackle solution for the Cincinnati bengals as they were looking for tackles for so long in off seasons over the years. And Morgan Moses' name has come up at least until they drafted Amarius Mims. And maybe even that year, it's like, yeah, Morgan Moses, sure, you would take him while Amarius is learning. And they ended up going with Trent Brown that year, a different tackle associated with the Patriots, as Morgan Moses now is. Who's going to tackle better?

You know, like, isn't Miles Murphy that it's just like, yeah, Miles Murphy's going to be the guy that he has broken out. We'll see if that continues this week. I hope it has. We spent a lot of time this week on the film episode talking about how good Miles Murphy was against the Steelers. And it's not just pass rush. It was also his motor, the way he finished plays,

his awareness and tracking guys down after they caught the ball too, a couple of times or the hustle plays. DJ Turner, can he have a nice bounce back in? Can they manufacture a takeaway or two? They seem to have a – that's always – the wild card for a bad defense is like, can you, can you steal one? And that probably is required. It is.

I know they got some stops against the Steelers last week. They had Aaron Rogers in a bit of hell in that first half, quite frankly. The pressure was significant. It's just this isn't old man Rogers and weaponless offense on the other side. This is young Drake May who has some. and I know this is going to sound crazy, has some Joe Burrow to his game in terms of escapeability in the pocket.

It is hard to get him to the ground when you get to him in the first place, which is a question for this defense, with a number of weapons where he is comfortable throwing the ball that can beat you. So that's your challenge this week. Yeah.

And the turnovers is the path, the turnover element here, but you also just have to do the basic stuff. Like you're going to have to tackle or trivia on him. Anderson and Ramadre Stevenson are going to have huge games. I mean, who thought Kenneth Gainwell last week was going to be the leading receiver for the Steelers? Right? Kenneth, we wouldn't have said that.

And yet he was. Darnell Washington had the longest catch of the game, 31 yards. Like, that can't happen. You can't have that type of effort. I don't care. By the way, did you see that podcast? He weighs 311 pounds. Yeah.

We don't care. Make an effort. Effort. I, that, if Joe Burrow comes back, and this defense doesn't get effort, they should cut anyone that shows lack of effort. I'm serious. Just to be clear. They should have anyway, but that's a topic for another day.

Like the attitude is something that can't waver. And in effort on some plays, it has certainly been questionable from a, oh, my gosh, I'm going to do everything I can to make sure this guy gets on the ground. Like, that should be their mindset. I don't know how you can play defense and not feel that way each and every play. I wonder how much of a difference Joe Burrow makes on the offensive side of the wall too. Like I don't, I'm not sitting here to tell you that Joe Flacco is good compared to Joe Burrow. Joe Flacco has done nice things for this team. Here's the caveats is like, one, how well is he moving?

Yeah. How much is his escapeability part of the game? Two, who's playing right guard? Jalen Rivers didn't practice on Wednesday. It should be Reisner. stylistically, I would rather have Dalton Reisner at lightguard with Joe out there. Even not stylistically, but especially when you consider the way Jaylen Rivers loses and how that fits with Joe Burrough's approach to playing the quarterback position.

But the other factor here is we've seen Joe historically have these slow starts. We haven't seen Joe return from an injury in season. So is there a ramp up time? the way that we have seen there be a ramp up time for Joe at the beginning of seasons in the past. Like he hasn't missed 10 games and then come back. It's not 10 games, eight games and then come back. Yeah. So what kind of ramp up time is there for Joe before he's really feeling it and feel settled in from like the timing of the game and how defenses are attacking them and all those things?

Yeah. the path, I was thinking about it in like slow starts, return from injury, all of those things as you're talking. The game, like the stylistic plan, I would say, for the Bengals on offense would be what he did and what they did against the Vikings in 2021. When he's coming off with the ACL, he threw it 27 times. Not 47, 27, 27. He was 20 of 27, 261, 261 yards, two touchdowns, a 128.8 quarterback rating. Joe Mixen had 29 rushing attempts. And they're still very likely no Somaget Pirine this week.

Over 40. And that's another one. Samaj Parin had five rushing attempts. Both guys averaged 4.4 yards per carry. And so you need that kind of balance. Obviously, they don't have a Jamar Chase like they had then. But yeah, you lean on T. Higgins. You lean on Chase Brown.

Maybe you get Gassiki back. You're leaning on Noah Fant Gassiki, if that's the case. obviously Andre Yosevaish Mitch Tindley I think those are the guys I've been asked about Jermaine Burton I don't think if he's active I think it'll be in a special team's role I don't think he's necessarily going to be involved on offense I think Charlie Jones is well ahead of him and would not shock me if Burton is inactive again he's he's it's been a rough go of it I would say over the past few months for germane that'll certainly be received with total practicality Just being honest.

Yeah, no. I mean, now maybe he's active. All week. Like, is he active in the first place? I mean, we have talked about that since the beginning of the week since the suspension news came out for, for Jamar.

We'll have you covered here. As the Joe Burrow story continues to develop on lockdown Bengals, we'll have you covered, of course, after the game as well. If nothing does develop with Joe Burrow, but if you're paying attention to the Bengals, and you are, if you're listening to this podcast at the 32-minute mark. You certainly have your eyes on news around Joe Burrow

that could emerge Friday afternoon, Saturday. We got you. We got you. Until then, thanks for listening to this episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Hootin. And have a good.