Why Joe Burrow is risking comeback after injury in lost Bengals season

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said he understands why some are concerned that he’s returning from a toe injury to a 3-8 Cincinnati team with virtually no chance at making the playoffs.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of Thursday’s game road against the Ravens, Burrow — who had surgery to repair a Grade 3 turf-toe injury in his left foot after Week 2 — explained that sitting out isn’t ever an option if he’s healthy.

“As soon as it happened, I was pushing to do everything we could to get back on the field,” Burrow said Tuesday. “I’m a football player. I get paid a lot of money to go and play a game with my friends. We work really hard. It’s intense and there are jobs on the line.

“But at the end of the day, it’s a game. I’ve worked hard to put myself in this position and get as healthy as I can be to go out and play with these guys, and that’s something I want to do.”

Burrow explained that he refuses to live his life in fear of getting injured on the football field.

“I understand why people feel that way, but if you look at it from my perspective, I’m a football player, and if I get hurt, I’m going to go through the rehab process and then I’m going to let everyone know when I feel like I can go out there and play,” he said. “I dont really know what else to say about that.