Joe Burrow is questionable with a back injury for the Cincinnati Bengals’ game Sunday at Houston, but he is expected to face the Texans.
Barring a setback, Burrow should be good to go, Tom Pelissero of Netflix reported Sunday.
Burrow had little patience Wednesday for the idea of missing the game.
“That’s ridiculous,” Burrow said. “I feel good. Some normal game day soreness, that’s for sure. But I’ll be all right … I’ll do what it takes to be out there.”
He did not know which play caused it.
“I didn’t really start feeling it till after the game,” Burrow said. “That’s typically how it happens.”
The tightness followed a hit Burrow absorbed while scrambling for a first down in the opener against Tampa Bay.
He finished that game 25-of-35 for 254 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and he ran five times for 20 yards in a 33-27 win. The Bengals recovered four Buccaneers fumbles and held on after Tampa Bay rallied from an 18-point deficit.
Burrow was limited in Bengals practice Wednesday and Thursday before moving to full participation Friday.
“He practiced in full today,” coach Zac Taylor said Friday. “He feels good.”
The team still listed him as questionable on the final injury report, leaving the final word on his status until closer to kickoff.
On Saturday, Cincinnati added a safety net. It elevated veteran quarterback Josh Johnson from the practice squad, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported. Johnson slots in behind Joe Flacco, the primary backup.
Defensive tackle B.J. Hill is also questionable, with an Achilles injury.
Defensive end Shemar Stewart is off the injury report after missing Week 1 with a knee injury. He is set to make his 2026 debut.
Houston’s defense is looking to recover from its opener. The Texans allowed 36 points in a loss to the Buffalo Bills.
The Texans will also be short on the edge. Jadeveon Clowney, Houston’s third edge rusher behind Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, is out with a knee injury.
The Bengals’ passing attack runs through Burrow and receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Kickoff is 1 p.m. ET at NRG Stadium on CBS. Burrow’s status becomes official when inactives are released around 11:30 a.m. ET.
Should the back tighten during warmups, Flacco would take over, with Johnson as the third quarterback. Cincinnati visits the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. ET.
