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With the Bengals pretty much eliminated from playoff contention, Joe Burrow could have sat out the rest of the season to focus on next year, but instead decided to lace up his cleats and play.
Burrow, who returned to the field Thursday night against the Ravens for the first time since he suffered a toe injury in Week 2, told the media why it was important for him to play on Thanksgiving.
“But whenever you have an opportunity like this against a divisional opponent that’s won five straight, and you’re playing on a Thursday night in front of the world. That’s an exciting opportunity. ”
“Just like a lot of kids, you grow up going through Thanksgiving, you have your meals with your family and then you go and sit on the couch, and typically, there’s not a lot on except football,” Burrow said. “Back in the day, it was Lions and somebody. You go watch Matthew Stafford throw for 300, 400-something yards with Calvin Johnson and probably lose the game, but it was fun to watch. Those are memories that you have, so I always wanted to kind to be the person out there. ”
After throwing for 261 yards and two touchdowns in a win against the Ravens on Thanksgiving, Burrow was asked again why he decided to play in the game.
“We’re getting paid a lot of money to play a kid’s game. I love playing. I just want to put on a show for the fans.”
“We’re getting paid a lot of money to play a kid’s game…I just want to put on a show for the fans”
Joe Burrow is a man of the people! pic.twitter.com/W2AGECTW51
— Kickr Games (@KickrGames) November 28, 2025
Fans loved Burrow’s answer.
How can you hate this guy!?!? https://t.co/ByWeHsaf8x
— Ryan Hensiak (@Henzi3500) November 28, 2025
Joey B is a class act https://t.co/vROS8edxMz
— Shlink (@Shlink_TV) November 28, 2025