Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said he is dealing with back tightness which resulted in him being a limited participant in practice on Sept. 16. Burrow didn’t participate in team stretch and said he got plenty of “mental reps” during practice.
Following practice, Burrow addressed his injury and told reporters that he intends to play against the Houston Texans on Sept. 20.
“I feel good,” Burrow said. “Some normal game-day soreness, that's for sure. But I'll be all right.”
Burrow immediately shot down any notion that this injury will preclude him from playing in Week 2. He doubled down on his stance when asked if he’s contemplating sitting out against the Texans out of precaution given the length of the season ahead.
“No … that's ridiculous,”
Burrow said. “I think every game is important. I’ll do what it takes to be out there. If I’m not having surgery, I’ll be out there.”
Will Joe Burrow practice before Bengals vs. Texans?
Burrow wouldn’t say if he plans to practice more this week. Cincinnati will practice Sept. 17 and 18 before leaving for Houston on Sept. 19. His practice availability will be based on how he feels each day.
The Bengals are mandated to release an injury report each day following practice and Burrow’s practice status will be documented daily. On Sept. 18, the team will release a final injury report in the afternoon, likely after 1:30 p.m. Cincinnati’s final practice of the week ends around 12:15 p.m. ET. Bengals coach Zac Taylor will address Burrow’s game status on Sept. 18 after practice around 12:30 p.m. ET.
The final injury report of the week will list the game status designations for any player who sits with any questions surrounding their availability. The designations are: Questionable, doubtful or ruled out to play in the upcoming game.
If Burrow doesn’t have a game designation listed by his name on the final injury report of the week, it means he’s good to go.
When do the Bengals have to decide whether Joe Burrow will be active/not active against the Houston Texans?
If the Bengals were to list Burrow as questionable or doubtful, the team has until 11:30 ET/10:30 CT Sept. 20 to decide whether he plays. The NFL requires teams to turn in their inactive lists 90 minutes prior to kickoff. If a player is listed as inactive, they can’t participate in the game. NFL teams can dress up to 48 of their 53 players for each game.
Will Joe Burrow wear a back brace/harness to help with the pain?
Burrow said he’s not currently wearing a back brace or harness as he deals with tightness.
Depending on how his back feels as the week goes on, the Bengals’ medical staff will explore all options to ensure he feels as good as he can and is protected.
The Texans have one of the best defenses in the NFL and were top ranked last season, giving up 17. 4 points per game. Houston ranked No. 7 in sacks with 47, and all three of its premiere edge rushers in Will Anderson, Danielle Hunter and Jadeveon Clowney returned for another season.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Will Joe Burrow practice before Bengals vs. Texans? Everything to know
