Thanksgiving night delivered more than just turkey and tradition for Bengals fans-it brought the return of Joe Burrow, and with it, a jolt of life to a Cincinnati team that desperately needed it.
After a long stretch on the sidelines, Burrow was back under center, leading the Bengals to a statement win over the Baltimore Ravens on the road. It wasn’t just a victory-it was a reminder of what this team can be when its franchise quarterback is healthy and in rhythm. Zac Taylor’s squad had stumbled to a 1-8 record in Burrow’s absence, but his return flipped the script in a big way.
Fans had been holding out hope that Burrow might suit up the week prior against the Patriots. He’d gone through a full week of practice, and the buzz around his availability was real.
But head coach Zac Taylor pumped the brakes, saying Burrow needed just a few more days. Turns out, those extra days made all the difference.
In a recent conversation with Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Burrow gave a candid breakdown of how the comeback plan came together. “The plan all along was Buffalo,” he said.
“And then as we got closer to these games, it was feeling pretty dang good. And so then it moved up to tonight (Thanksgiving).
And that would allow me to get two full weeks of practice in before this game.”
That decision to target Thanksgiving for his return wasn’t made lightly. Burrow had been ramping up, and the practices leading into the Ravens game gave him and the staff the confidence they needed.
“Those practices felt pretty good,” he continued. “And then we made the decision to think about it last week (against the Patriots).
And at the end of the day, I didn’t, but I was prepared to.”
Prepared is the key word there. Burrow didn’t just return-he looked sharp, composed, and fully in command.
For a player who suffered a brutal toe injury back in September, the turnaround has been nothing short of impressive. But maybe even more important than the physical recovery is where Burrow is mentally.
And right now, he’s focused on rediscovering the joy in the game.
“I’m just trying to find the fun in it again,” Burrow told Breer. “These last three years have been pretty brutal with two injuries, and then the season we had last year.
It’s been a while since I was able to have fun doing this. And so I’m just trying to find that again.”
That’s a powerful statement from a player who’s already been through the NFL wringer in just a few seasons. Two major injuries, sky-high expectations, and a rollercoaster of team success-it’s easy to forget how much pressure rides on Burrow’s shoulders every time he steps on the field.
But as he said, the only way to truly enjoy the game again is to play it. “You’re not going to have any fun by watching everybody else play.
That’s for sure.”
For Cincinnati, Burrow’s return doesn’t just boost the offense-it changes the entire outlook of the season. His presence brings belief, swagger, and the kind of leadership you can’t fake. And if Thanksgiving night is any indication, the Bengals may be getting hot at just the right time.