NFL Insider Discusses Number of Games Joe Burrow Could Return For During 2025 Season
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport expanded on his Joe Burrow report from last week.
Cincinnati's top player is working as hard as he can to get back on the field before the end of the season, and Rapoport told ESPN's Kevin Clark that this is much more realistic than Aaron Rodgers' potential in-season return from his 2023 torn Achilles.
"He really might, and I don't know that it's going to be December 10th," Rapoport said, noting there is no set date for a return as of Oct. 20. "My guess is the last two or three games of the season, he has a chance. But if they're alive, then I think we really may see Burrow, which is suddenly pretty realistic, and that would be the most dramatic of all things, and that will be very fun."
Cincinnati may have to stay one game above or below .500 by the time he can return to actually see this happen, but they set themselves back up for success with a win over Pittsburgh last week.
A Joe Flacco to Joe Burrow handoff of the offense at 7-8 or 8-7 with games against the combined 4-10 Cardinals and Browns could be the perfect way for Burrow to get back in rhythm and punch a playoff ticket.
Would, could, should, if, but, then. It's all hypothetical for the time being.
Check out the full discussion below:
Cowboys Have Reached out to Raiders About Bombshell Trade: Report
The Las Vegas Raiders are heading in the wrong direction, and it’s clear that they are far away from being contenders. Many believe that this will lead to the franchise embracing a total rebuild.
If that’s the case, that means some key veterans could be available ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline. The Raiders’ most valuable asset is star pass rusher Maxx Crosby. He’s been the team’s best player for years, but hasn’t been shy about his frustration with their losing ways.
The Dallas Cowboys have been one of the surprises of the NFL this season. Many thought they’d be among the league’s worst teams after they hired Brian Schottenheimer as head coach and traded away star pass rusher Micah Parsons.
However, the team is 3-3-1 and has the No. 1 offense in the NFL right now. The problem facing them is that their defense is among the worst in the league. Now that it’s clear that the Cowboys’ offense is good enough to compete in the playoffs, they may be reevaluating whether or not they want to go all in this season.
According to longtime NFL analyst Trey Wingo, the Cowboys have reached out to the Raiders about possibly trading for Crosby.
How Much Is Crosby Worth in a Trade?
The Cowboys traded Parsons to the Green Bay Packers for two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. Some would argue that Crosby is a better overall player than Parsons due to how he affects the run game, but he’s slightly older.
Regardless, the Raiders are going to want a similar haul to what the Cowboys got. Plus, Dallas wouldn’t have to give Crosby a new contract.
The baseline for a trade has to be two first-round picks. Crosby is 28 years old, a team leader and a relentless worker. He might be the best run-defending defensive end in the NFL, while also being an elite pass rusher. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones cited run defense as a reason they traded Parsons away, but that wouldn’t be a problem for Crosby. It’s possible that the Raiders could ask for even more than what Dallas got for Parsons.
Would Raiders Actually Trade Crosby?
Crosby is the heart and soul of the Raiders. Outside of left tackle Kolton Miller, he’s been with the team longer than any other player.
He’s the face of the franchise and the favorite player in the fan base. However, many fans have accepted that it’s probably best for him to go elsewhere if he wants to win. Right now, the Cowboys are clearly a better team than Las Vegas, despite only having one more win.
Now, the Pete Carroll factor is impossible to ignore. He’s already the oldest head coach in NFL history. Even if it’s a rebuild, he’s going to push for a quick turnaround. Getting rid of your best player is going to make a turnaround take a lot longer.
If the Raiders traded Crosby, that would be an obvious front office decision and could be bad news for the coach’s long-term prospects. It seems more likely the team would wait until the offseason to make such a big move.
