The Cincinnati Bengals sound intent on letting Joe Burrow finish the season despite being eliminated from playoff contention.
But few could blame them for stepping in and shutting him down.
It’s mid-December, which means we’re right in the middle of Burrow’s original expected return window after surgery to address his Grade 3 turf toe. Rather than just getting back in the fold, though, he’s played three games.
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Comeback complete but the overall objective failed, the smart thing might be for the Bengals to pull Burrow from the final three down the stretch and guarantee him a healthy offseason.
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Burrow doesn’t want that, of course. This push to finish the year is coming from him. It’s not some misguided effort by Zac Taylor to save his job. Remember, Taylor and the team shut down Burrow’s comeback bid against New England before the Thanksgiving win over Baltimore in the name of protecting him.
Protecting Burrow in the same manner again might be the wisest course of action. It’s not like fans will complain, given all they know about Burrow’s injury history.
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There are similar vibes around the Bengals’ offense, which fans have started to pick up on lately. When Joe Flacco came in and played well and the running game was strong with the veteran under center, it just put a spotlight on whether the coaching staff should tailor things less to what Burrow wants in the name of his health.
Barring a shocker, the Bengals aren’t going to step in and make a different call on Burrow to close the year. The upside minimal and the risk high, Bengals fans can be forgiven for watching by peeking through their fingers.
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This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Nobody would blame Bengals for shutting down Joe Burrow