Quarterback Joe Burrow is set to make his return from a toe injury as the 3-8 Cincinnati Bengals face the 6-5 Baltimore Ravens on Thanksgiving night. Lamar Jackson, dealing with a toe injury but carrying no designation, will lead the Ravens in a pivotal AFC North matchup at M&T Bank Stadium. The game kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET and carries playoff implications for Baltimore.
The Thanksgiving Day nightcap features a matchup between two AFC North rivals with contrasting fortunes. The Ravens have won five straight games to improve to 6-5, tying them atop the division with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Baltimore's resurgence comes despite nagging injuries to quarterback Lamar Jackson, who missed Monday's walkthrough due to a toe issue—his third injury in three weeks following ankle and knee problems. Jackson has no injury designation and is confirmed to start, having completed 66.7% of his passes for 1,595 yards, 15 touchdowns, and three interceptions this season, posting a 111.0 passer rating, second in the NFL.
For the Bengals, the return of franchise quarterback Joe Burrow after missing time since Week 2 with a toe injury offers a spark to a struggling 3-8 team out of playoff contention. Burrow shrugged off the injury, stating, "I'm not going to sit if healthy." Cincinnati has gone 1-8 without him, but wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase returns to the lineup, while Tee Higgins remains sidelined with a concussion. Burrow holds an 18-5 record in late-season games (Week 12 onward), averaging 296 passing yards with a 49-15 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Jackson dominates the Bengals historically, going 7-1 against Burrow with a 22-4 TD-INT ratio and 784 rushing yards in 12 starts. However, Jackson hasn't thrown a touchdown in his last two outings and has looked limited since returning from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for three games. The Ravens' defense has improved over the past six weeks, but Cincinnati's unit showed promise last week with a pick-six and goal-line stands against New England. Without edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, stopping Jackson's mobility will be key.
This eighth meeting between the star quarterbacks could hinge on their health and form, with Baltimore aiming to solidify its division standing.