Bengals QB Joe Burrow back in pads at practice after appendectomy

The Cincinnati Bengals took another step toward being ready for the regular season as quarterback Joe Burrow returned to the practice field Sunday wearing pads.

Burrow had been out the past two weeks after needing an appendectomy right after the start of training camp. Burrow, like most of the Bengals' starters, sat out Friday's 36-23 preseason loss to the Arizona Cardinals, but the third-year QB did run sprints and throw some passes during pregame warmups.

With Burrow progressing toward being ready for the Week 1 start against the Pittsburgh Steelers (Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. at Paycor Stadium), safety Jessie Bates appears to be the only question mark of notable starters returning to the defending…