Despite advice to the contrary, the Cincinnati Bengals made it official on Wednesday: Joe Burrow is back!

Activated from injured reserve after Tuesday night’s final practice ahead of Thursday’s Thanksgiving matchup with Baltimore, Burrow will start the Bengals’ first holiday appearance in 15 years as he makes his return after 75 days sidelined by a turf toe injury. With Cincy’s season effectively over after a mixed bag of results in his absence, many suggested Burrow would be foolish to return for a lost cause, but this date has been circled on the quarterback’s calendar ever since he returned to practice three weeks ago.

“Whenever you have an opportunity like this, against a divisional opponent that’s won five straight, and you’re playing on a Thursday night in front of the world… that’s an exciting opportunity,” Burrow said ahead of the marquee divisional showdown against Lamar Jackson and a Ravens team that has ripped off five straight wins to pull level with Pittsburgh at the top of the AFC North.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for the people on the other side of the ball but, when you play them twice a year, you get tired of them, you don’t like them. It’s a divisional rivalry, so it’s pretty intense out there — and it’s something I wanted to be out there for. Playing on Thanksgiving is something I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve pushed for it in the past, and the NFL gave it to us — but then the injury happened and I thought I wouldn’t be able to play. Obviously, as we got closer, there was a greater possibility that I could play, and that was exciting to me. It’s a national stage to go out and prove yourself again after not playing for so many weeks and, every opportunity to prove all the hard work you put in, the kind of player you are, is something I try to take advantage of.”

For Burrow, the moment carries a personal touch, too. Like so many fans, he grew up watching Thanksgiving football and dreaming of being on that stage.

“You have your meal, sit on the couch, and there’s not a lot on except football,” he told the media. “You’d watch Matthew Stafford throw for 300 or 400 yards with Calvin Johnson… and Detroit would probably still lose! Those are memories you have, so I always wanted to be the person out there.”

On Thursday night, he finally gets that chance.