Joe Burrow is expected to be back on the field for the Bengals in the late part of the 2025 season, and he ultimately returned around Week 13 after recovering from toe surgery.

What the timeline looked like

  • Burrow had surgery on a serious turf toe/foot injury on September 19, 2025, with an estimated recovery timeline of about three months.
  • That three‑month mark fell around December 19, lining up with the Bengals’ Week 16 game against the Dolphins or, if slightly delayed, Week 17 vs. the Cardinals.
  • Cincinnati opened his 21‑day practice window in early November, and reports out of Cincinnati framed Thanksgiving night vs. the Ravens as a realistic target if his recovery stayed on track.

When he actually returned

  • NFL and national coverage later noted that Burrow did make it back on the field in the final stretch of the 2025 season, with his return coming in Week 13.
  • By that point, the Bengals were on the brink of elimination, so his comeback was more about finishing the season and building toward 2026 than a clear playoff push.

What it means going forward

  • Entering 2026, the expectation is that Burrow is healthy enough to play, though there is ongoing concern about the long‑term impact of repeated lower‑body injuries and the need to keep him protected.
  • Coaches and analysts have consistently stressed that he should not rush back from these types of injuries again, given his value to the franchise and his history of major knee, wrist, and now toe issues.

TL;DR: Joe Burrow’s “supposed to return” window centered on late November to late December 2025 after his toe surgery, and he ultimately did return in Week 13 to finish out the season.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.