The Cincinnati Bengals are not having the season they hoped for, primarily because QB Joe Burrow has been out with injury since Week 2. Still, there is time for their season to be turned around, and Week 13 is the perfect time to start.
Burrow is set to return, and their opponent for tonight’s Thanksgiving game is the Baltimore Ravens, who are currently in first place in the division.
How Was Joe Burrow Able To Return From His Injury?
When the Bengals’ star QB went down in Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the expectation was that Burrow would return after a few months.
But it would also have been risky. Turf toe, the injury Burrow suffered, can be very pesky, and reinjury is possible.
To prevent further injury, Burrow is set to wear a carbon fiber turf toe plate, per Ian Rapoport: “he is going to have a carbon turf toe plate in his shoe; he is also going to have his toe taped down.”
From @NFLGameDay Morning: #Bengals QB Joe Burrow is back tonight, likely wearing a carbon fiber turf toe plate with his toe secure in his cleat. He beats the 3-month recovery timeline. pic.twitter.com/1NlTrfFGGz
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 27, 2025
The Bengals and Burrow understand this, but with the potential to make the playoffs, both recognize that his return could be the key to getting them there.
How the Carbon Fiber Turf Toe Plate Will Affect Burrow
Before we examine how Burrow’s game will be affected, let’s take a look at what the carbon fiber turf toe plate is. Inside the shoe, a carbon fiber insole is inserted, preventing the shoe from bending at the toes.
This also helps the injury heal by reducing the toe’s range of motion. With the plate, as Ian Rapoport mentioned, Burrow’s toe will also be taped down to further restrict its movement.
There is a significant concern regarding Burrow’s return: a present risk of reinjury.
The turf toe plate will be able to get Burrow back on the field, but there is a looming risk that he could re-injure the toe. This season, we have already seen this happen with Brock Purdy, who had a milder case of turf toe and returned too soon, only to exacerbate the injury.
In addition, per PFSN’s NFL Playoff Predictor, the Bengals have a 1% chance of making the playoffs. Yes, it can happen, and the odds go up to 5% with a win over Baltimore, but is that worth risking Burrow’s future health?