Joe Burrow explains return mindset despite Bengals' dwindling playoff hopes

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is on track to return to the lineup and play at the Baltimore Ravens on Thanksgiving night.

Burrow understands that outsiders think the Bengals should shut him down since the 3-8 team needs more than just a few wins to become a legitimate playoff contender. He also seems unmoved by such takes. 

Why Joe Burrow will return to action despite Bengals' record

"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 explained on Tuesday, per Ben Baby of ESPN. "That doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I'm not going to live my life and play this game scared of something happening."

Burrow hasn't played since he suffered a toe injury in Week 2 that left him needing surgery. He was listed as a full practice participant last week for the first time since having that procedure, but wasn’t activated from injured reserve for Cincinnati's Week 12 home game versus the New England Patriots. The Bengals ultimately suffered a 26-20 loss to New England. 

Why Joe Burrow wants at least one shot at Ravens

Like the Bengals, the Cleveland Browns will head into Thanksgiving Day at 3-8. Meanwhile, the Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers are tied atop the AFC North standings at 6-5. 

The Bengals will face the Ravens on Thursday and again in Week 15, but Cincinnati and Pittsburgh have already split their season series. The Bengals beat the Browns in Week 1, and those teams won't see each other again until Week 18. 

As of Wednesday morning, the ESPN Football Power Index gave the Bengals just a 1.2 percent chance to make the playoffs. Nevertheless, Burrow wants an opportunity to at least spoil Baltimore's holiday weekend. 

"Got a lot of respect for the people on the opposite side of the ball, but when you play people twice a year, you get tired of them," Burrow said about the Ravens. "You don't like them. It's a division rivalry. You got respect for them, but it's intense out there."

On Wednesday, ESPN BET had the Bengals as seven-point underdogs against the Ravens. It's unclear if Burrow would play beyond Week 13 if Cincinnati loses at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium in front of a prime-time audience.