Joe Burrow just returned from a Grade 3 turf toe injury that doctors said would sideline him for at least three months. But the Bengals signal caller holds no soft heart. He beat that timeline by weeks and made no excuses for Ravens on Thanksgiving, who were on a five-game winning streak.

But the Bengals currently sit at 3-8, so many wondered why he chose to return at this stage. However, Burrow didn’t hesitate to explain that he loves to get paid when his work pays off.

Fans praised his bold statement and the guts he has, something important missing in many who want to make football a soft game.

Joe Burrow Feeling Better as He Sees Work Pay Off

He suffered his injury setback in Week 2 against Jacksonville. Initial tests revealed the worst possible diagnosis; marking the injury as Grade 3 turf toe means complete ligament tears.

Doctors had to repair the plantar plate, that thick strip of tissue connecting the big toe to the ball of the foot. The surgery took about an hour. Then comes six months of the standard medical recovery timeline.

But Burrow ignored standard timelines. He returned to practice two weeks ago in a limited capacity. Then he told Fox’s Jay Glazer his return date was “Thanksgiving-ish” weeks ago.

Fans argued with him not to rush since the Bengals were sitting at 3-8, with a zero percent chance of making it to the playoffs. But they failed to convince their signal-caller to stay home.

“I’m not ever going to go to somebody and say, ‘Yeah, I’m healthy, but I don’t think I should go out there and play,’” Burrow said Tuesday before the game. 

Before the Thanksgiving game kickoff, the 28-year-old made his mindset clear to NBC reporter Melissa Clark. He said, “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, be out there with my guys, and go out and play well.”

His outing backed up the talk, as he completed 24 of 46 passing attempts for 261 yards and two touchdowns. Not spectacular statistically but efficient enough when you consider he set a carbon fiber plate in his cleat to protect the toe.

Despite injury risk, he showed no obvious limitations rolling out or moving in the pocket. His menacing leadership in the Bengals’ 32-14 victory gave Bengals fans a great feeling of having him back on the field.

NFL Fans Torch Critics and Praise Burrow’s Toughness

The internet exploded with reactions to Burrow’s gutsy return. Fans couldn’t believe he came back ahead of schedule for a team with no playoff hopes. The thing he earned is only respect.

One fan wrote, “Bro cut out his soft organs. Now he is the bloody hard hitting QB we have been asking for. He just torched those who want soft football.”

A second added, “2x Comeback Player of the Year is crazy.”

A third noted, “You can’t not love Joe Burrow. I am glad to have him back. I hope he balls out the rest of the season. Wonder who Joe Flacco will start for next year……”

“Burrow back = defense in trouble,” a fourth remarked.

A random X user claimed, “Big love for the game and grateful for the paycheck. Football passion wins!”

Some fans pointed out the irony of Burrow winning Comeback Player of the Year twice already. He won it in 2024 after missing seven games in 2023 with a wrist injury. Now he’s mounting another comeback in 2025. The award should just be renamed after him at this point.

Six games remain on the schedule: two against Baltimore, one against Buffalo, and division matchups with Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Burrow plans to play every snap if his toe holds up, aiming to give his team the best chance to reach the playoffs. This is his main motivation for returning so quickly.