Joe Burrow will return on Thanksgiving night against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium, and the Cincinnati Bengals have missed him dearly. It was all coming together for Burrow in OTAs, training camp, and even the preseason, where he was fully healthy for the first time in his career. Then, disaster struck in Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars when he suffered a Grade 3 Turf Toe injury that would require surgery and put him on the shelf for two months. Jake Browning was abysmal this time around, and veteran Joe Flacco did an admirable job after being acquired from the Cleveland Browns before the trade deadline. The defense couldn’t support anyone, and the return of Burrow should provide a boost to the entire organization, even in these tough times. What is most evident when QB1 was out was the lack of guidance on this Bengals squad. Burrow is proving that, while quiet, he’s still leading the way for all to see.
Joe Burrow Shows What Leadership Is All About
Lost Days
Coming back from injury and performing at a high level is nothing new to Burrow, who, unfortunately, has missed significant portions of three of his six seasons in the NFL. Each time, he seems to have learned a new lesson en route to becoming a better player and a more effective role model in the locker room for a young group of players who admire him.
Burrow will never be afraid, that much is clear, as he stated yesterday, “I’m not going to live my life and play this game scared of something happening. Like, yeah, something is going to happen, it’s football. Guys are going to get hurt, guys are going to get concussions, you’re going to break bones, tear ligaments, it’s a physical, intense game. That’s part of this. Yea, I’ve had injuries, there’s not a lot I can do about that. I worked really hard to have that not happen, but what I can do is when it does happen, I can control how I’m attacking my rehab and attacking practice and doing everything in my power to get back as quickly as possible and that’s what I did.”
Mind Games
In the pre-draft process in 2020, Cincinnati was impressed not only by Burrow’s talent but, more importantly, the mental makeup of a young rookie who was mature and intelligent well beyond his years. This winning mindset has been critical in elevating coaches and players alike around number nine, and shows your true character when the team is struggling.
Hard Working Man
Burrow guides through action, and the tremendous amount of work he puts in. This applies whether he’s healthy or coming off an injury, and extends to his off-field efforts. His teammates see this, and his infectious behavior fuels them as he conducts business, giving 100 percent in every second of every day.
2025 has certainly been a challenging season for the organization and fans who support a team with a transcendent player of Burrow’s caliber. Moving forward, one thing is for sure: Burrow is a winner, and his train isn’t slowing down for anyone. You’d better get on, or you’re being left behind.
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