Aug 7, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) was up on the sideline during the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

He's back.

Cut up the turkey and pass the stuffing, because Joe Burrow is officially in the starting lineup on Thursday night against the Baltimore Ravens.

The superstar quarterback will be back in the Bengals lineup for the first time since suffering a Grade 3 turf toe injury all the way back in the second week of the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

It has been a long wait for Burrow, who was put on the injured reserve and had his 21-day practice window start last week in the lead-up to the New England Patriots game. Although Burrow was a full participant in practice, he was held out as his team fell to the conference-leading Pats.

At 3-8, the Bengals need a miracle run, even in a middling AFC North division, to make the playoffs. Luckily for Burrow and the Bengals, they still play the Ravens (6-5) twice in their last leg of the 2025 campaign, leaving open a tiny door of hope that they might have a puncher's chance of making it interesting down the stretch.

Thanksgiving is a must-win; however, a defeat would confirm a losing record for the Bengals this year. A win and bringing the Ravens back to .500 would change the narrative from looking toward the draft in April to wondering if Burrow can do the unthinkable in a topsy-turvy season across the board.

For the Ravens, tied with the Steelers atop the division, a victory over the Bengals would not only bury them for 2025 but keep them ahead of Pittsburgh in the race to the playoffs.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Joe Burrow officially back for Thanksgiving vs. Baltimore Ravens

Reporting by Tyler Erzberger, Touchdown Wire / Touchdown Wire

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