Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins said he asked Joe Burrow Wednesday if he was going to play Sunday against the New England Patriots.
The two-time NFL Comeback Player of the Year gave Higgins a side-eyed look.
"I don't know what that look meant, but I assume good," Higgins told reporters Thursday, Burrow's second straight day practicing in full ahead of a Week 12 home game versus an AFC title contender.
When the Bengals opened Burrow's 21-day practice window on Nov. 10, he said returning for Cincinnati's Thanksgiving game against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens would be "very" meaningful.
But he might be back on the field before then. Higgins thinks Burrow is back to 100% from the turf toe injury he suffered in the second game of the season.
"He's practicing like he was Week 1," Higgins said, via Bengals reporter Mike Petraglia.
Burrow was the first quarterback to throw during position drills in the portion of Thursday's practice open to the media, according to ESPN's Ben Baby, who also reported that Burrow took snaps from starting center Ted Karras in a quarterback-center exchange drill.
Joe Flacco, whom Cincinnati traded for last month following Jake Browning's struggles in Burrow's absence, has started the past five games. While the Bengals have won only once in that span, Flacco has often done his part, throwing for 1,453 yards, 12 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions along the way.
Flacco practiced Thursday, however, he was limited with a right shoulder injury.
Burrow, who had surgery on his toe on Sept. 19, is still on injured reserve, so he'd have to be moved to the active roster if he's to start Sunday's game against the Patriots.
"I'm not there yet," Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said on WLW radio earlier Thursday when he was asked about Burrow playing. "One day at practice isn't going to lead to that decision yet."
How about two? Or three?
Taylor will meet with reporters Friday after the Bengals' third and final practice of the week. Their season is on the line. Cincinnati has lost three games in a row and will be without suspended wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase versus the Patriots.
At 3-7, the Bengals are slipping behind in a manageable AFC North that's led by the 6-4 Pittsburgh Steelers. The Ravens are in the mix at 5-5.
Higgins said Burrow's been looking outstanding in practice this week.
"He needs to take as much time as he needs, but, I mean, he looks good," Higgins said. "If he's ready, then I'm ready. Take as much time as you need to get back to 100%, which I think he is now."