Joe Burrow Back In December?

Bengals QB Joe Burrow (toe) is "on track" to be back on the field by mid-December, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said before the team's Thursday night game vs. the Steelers. Burrow is one month removed from surgery to repair a Grade 3 turf toe and has had no setbacks, per Rapoport. Burrow "has told people close to him he absolutely intends to be back. Just needs the team to stay alive until then," Rapoport adds. That last point is key. We doubt the Bengals would bring Burrow back this season if they're eliminated from playoff contention. The 2-4 Bengals look much better under QB Joe Flacco, though, and are in an AFC North that's up for grabs. If they can pick up a handful of wins with Flacco, it sounds like Burrow could be back for Week 15 against the Ravens. He'd probably be a risky fantasy start in his first game back, but Burrow could be a factor in Week 16 and 17.