Bengals head coach Zac Taylor has to make a call by 4 p.m. Saturday if quarterback Joe Burrow is playing Sunday (1 p.m.-Cincinnati’s Local 12) against the Patriots at Paycor Stadium.

After Burrow went limited in Friday’s final tune-up practice following full workouts Wednesday and Thursday, Taylor said he looked good and had done all the right things to play. But he also had no decision and marked Burrow "questionable," for his first appearance since Sept. 14, when he suffered a turf toe injury that required surgery.

"We are still talking to doctors and everything. He's done everything he can. Everything is moving in a great position. Now we just have to make a decision," Taylor said.

Taylor is thinking about all the things he has to think about and they are plenty:

_The Bengals have virtually no turnaround for the Thanksgiving Night game (8:20-Cincinnat's Channel 5) in Baltimore.

"You play a game Sunday, you play a game Thursday, you got to factor in all that stuff," Taylor said. "He has tried to put himself in a position to be ready to go and we'll try to make a decision later."

_Asked if he has to protect Burrow from his almost maniacal desire to get back on the field, Taylor said, "Absolutely."

"I have to take into account what I think is best for him. He's coming back off an injury. He's been out for a long time," Taylor said. "I know he's of the right mindset and has done everything physically, and then I have to take into account what's the best thing for him, what's the best thing for our team and make the soundest decision."

_When Burrow tried to play through a strained calf early in the 2023 season, he struggled for the first month and has said maybe he came back too early.

"Every (injury) is different," Taylor said.

_There's also the option of activating him from injured reserve Saturday but still starting Joe Flacco. Flacco went full Friday and practiced all three days for the first time since he injured his shoulder late in the Oct. 26 Jets game.

"I think everything is on the table," Taylor said.

Taylor indicated Burrow has had no setbacks since he started practicing last week and amped it up to team drills this week.

"I think he's in good shape. I think he's done all that. He'd have to better answer that than I could on how he feels. But I mean, you saw him, he was throwing today. He looks good. We just got to make decision," Taylor said.

"There's a lot to balance. I mean, he comes back, he's done everything he can. He looks great. He looks healthy. You expect it to respond great. When he's out there getting tackled, you don't know. So every day that you can take matters with any injury."

Slants And Screens

The Bengals made a decision Friday on tight end Mike Gesicki and activated him from injured reserve after he injured his pectoral Oct. 12 in Green Bay. He went full all three days when he returned to practice this week ...

They also put cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (foot) on what looks to be season-ending injured reserve after he suffered a Lisfranc break in Pittsburgh last Sunday ...

Defensive end Cam Sample (oblique) was ruled out after not practicing all week, so Isaiah Foskey was activated from the practice squad for a third game ...

It looks like right guard Jalen Rivers (ankle) is going to go even though he was limited Thursday and Friday. He didn't have a status ...

Running back Samaje Perine (ankle) didn't practice at all this week and is doubtful ...

Safety Daijahn Anthony (hamstring) is still on injured reserve. He went full all week and is listed as doubtful ...

As expected, edge Trey Hendrickson (hip/pelvis) is out ...

Even if Burrow doesn't play, his shadow lingers over this game with Patriots second-year quarterback Drake Maye coming to town as an MVP candidate.

Sound familiar?

Maye leads the NFL with 2,836 passing yards and a 71.9 completion percentage. He can be the first sophomore quarterback to lead the NFL in completion percentage since Burrow in 2021 at 70.4 …

Maye is trying to record the highest completion percentage for a passing yards leader in history. Drew Brees has the record with 71.2 in 2011, and Burrow hit 70.6 last year …