Joe Burrow

CINCINNATI — The only thing it looks like Joe Burrow has to play for when he returns for the Bengals this week is trying to avoid a losing record.

And even that will be a tall task.

With Sunday’s 26-20 loss to New England, the Bengals (3-8) have dropped eight of nine since Burrow suffered a turf toe injury in a Sept. 14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. They are three games behind Baltimore and Pittsburgh in the AFC North and would likely need to win out and finish 9-8 to have a chance of returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2022.

Cincinnati faces Baltimore twice in three games, beginning Thursday night. In between the matchups with the Ravens is a game at Buffalo on Dec. 7.

Coach Zac Taylor said he anticipates that Burrow will play this week, but he was not ready to definitively say Burrow will start.

“Coming off an injury he’s done everything he could. He put himself in position to do his best to play (Thursday). We’ll continue with that mindset. He looks like he’s in good shape right now and he can be ready to go,” Taylor said.

Chase apologizes

CINCINNATI — Ja’Marr Chase apologized Monday for spitting on Jalen Ramsey during the fourth quarter of the Cincinnati Bengals’ loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 16.

Chase was suspended by the NFL for Sunday’s game. His statement of apology was addressed to his team, the Bengals and Steelers organizations and the NFL community, but the star wide receiver did not mention Ramsey by name.

“Please know I am speaking from my heart when I say I take full responsibility for my actions during last Sunday’s game at Pittsburgh,” Chase said in the statement, which was posted on social media. “What I did was wrong. The circumstances don’t matter. My passion for the game is no excuse. There’s zero place in our sport or in life for that level of disrespect. I want to personally apologize to everyone within the Pittsburgh Steelers organization. I let my emotions in the moment get the better of me.”

Elsewhere:

– The New York Giants fired defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, replacing him with outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen. The move made by interim coach Mike Kafka came after the team lost its sixth consecutive game to drop to 2-10 this season.

– Greg Olson was named the Las Vegas Raiders’ interim offensive coordinator. He replaces Chip Kelly, who was fired Sunday night after a 24-10 loss to Cleveland.