The Cincinnati Bengals are desperately looking for a victory on Thanksgiving. Their starter, Joe Burrow, is back after 74 days. However, everyone was shocked as he came out holding a pair of sneakers in his hand. Is everything alright?

Speaking to NFL reporter Bridget Condon before the game, Burrow explained that his cleats have a carbon fiber plate that exerts pressure on his left foot toe, resulting in numbness if he wears them for too long. So, Burrow plans to wear sneakers on the sidelines in between the drives. Well, necessity is the mother of adjustment in this case. The cameraman then showed the soles of both shoes. While the carbon fiber plate was stiff, the custom shoe had a more cushion-like sole, providing Burrow with major relaxation in between the plays.

Sure enough, it happened in the first quarter as well. As he sat down on the sideline, he took off his left cleat and wore the sneaker on his left foot only, which was injured. As the Ravens scored, he switched the shoes again and went onto the field. It might sound like a pretty obsessive idea to an outsider, but the fans loved it. It shows his commitment to the franchise and its supporters.

There have been plenty of instances when the players were forced to improvise on the field (or even during the game). In December 2024, the Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts participated in a social initiative where he ended up taking photos with the kids. But he also forgot all his shoes there, so he had to wear Jordans of two different colors. That was fine, but one of them wasn’t the Eagles’ primary color, resulting in a $5,628 fine for violating the league’s uniform and equipment rules.

No, Joe Burrow will not be fined as he never got on the field in those sneakers. But the situations often force the players to adjust. That’s what makes the sport so popular across different ages. Some players are more inclined towards the shoe fit than its material.

Eagles punter Braden Mann, who has played for the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers, revealed in 2023 that he preferred cheap synthetic cleats to the leather ones as they fit his foot more tightly. So, it goes back to personal preferences. The Bengals were pumped that their leader was putting every ounce of his energy into playing for them. However, the offense did not display the same determination.

Offense needs to support Joe Burrow

With almost two minutes remaining in the first quarter, the signal caller was on a 4th & goal. So, he looked towards his left and launched the ball to tight end Mike Gesicki. It should have been caught, but the Ravens’ safety Kyle Hamilton was putting constant pressure on.

In the end, Gesicki missed the ball, ending the Bengals’ chance to take a lead on their divisional rivals. The offensive gaps are there. But the second hope gave more belief to their supporters. Around the five-minute mark in the second quarter, Joe Burrow made a deep throw to their receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who caught it.

While Chase is returning from a suspension, they are playing without their receiver, Tee Higgins, out with a concussion. A win is crucial for their confidence as well. This is the time when the playoff picture starts getting clearer. With Burrow putting an all-in effort, they have a good chance of turnaround.