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Flacco Downplays Role Change as Burrow Nears Return for Bengals

Cincinnati’s revived passing game under Joe Flacco has been undercut by a leaky defense that continues to shape the team’s outlook.

Overview

  • Joe Burrow returned to practice under a 21-day window after his turf-toe IR stint, with the quarterback saying he is targeting a return around Thanksgiving.
  • Joe Flacco said he is not thinking about a potential demotion and is focused on this week’s start against Pittsburgh, calling any speculation a distraction.
  • Since taking over in Week 6, Flacco has averaged 313.5 passing yards with a 102.6 rating and an 11–2 TD-INT mark across four games for the 3–6 Bengals.
  • Analysts on The Pat McAfee Show urged Burrow to mirror Flacco’s quicker release and pacing to sustain offensive efficiency when he is back.
  • Coverage highlights defensive problems as a primary constraint, citing shootout losses to the Jets (39–38) and Bears (47–42) and calls from players to improve tackling.