Pro Bowl quarterback Joe Burrow won't play Sunday (1 p.m.-Cincinnati’s Local 12) against the Patriots at Paycor Stadium to begin a week the Bengals are also staring at a Thanksgiving Night game five days away in Baltimore.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor opted not to activate Burrow off injured reserve Saturday after his first week of practice in which he worked with the first team. On Thursday, the locker room sensed Burrow was close and wouldn't be surprised if he did play following two practices he went full.

After Friday's practice where Burrow went limited, Taylor remained upbeat about his progress but underlined it is still a process. The Patriots come in just 70 days after Burrow suffered a toe injury that required surgery.

"You have to trust your gut. Sometimes it's not a crystal-clear clean decision," Taylor said. "You have to take all the information, and you make the soundest decision that helps everybody."

There's also the Thursday nighter in Baltimore.

"It's two games in five days. It's part of the equation," Taylor said.

Taylor says that process has been a collaborative effort between coach and player.

"It's very conversational. It's very much like me and any of you having a conversation," Taylor said. "Me letting him know about my concerns, just full transparency. That's what every conversation has been that we've had for over a week - just full transparency. We're at that place where I'm going to tell you everything I think, the pros, the cons, and I want to hear the same from you. He's done a great job communicating. We're totally on the same page."

The move gives Joe Flacco his sixth Bengals start after his most active week of practice since he injured his throwing shoulder late in the Jets game on Oct. 26. On Wednesday and Thursday, Flacco went limited and Friday went full, flipping with Burrow.

Two moves that were made Saturday activated cornerback Jalen Davis and running back Gary Brightwell from the practice squad.

Davis, primarily a nickel back, has been with Bengals longer than any defender with stints on the practice squad and active roster since 2020. He's looking at playing his 53rd Bengals game.

Brightwell, who has played 39 games with the Giants and Browns, could be playing in his first Bengals game.