Joe Burrow is officially questionable for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans, and honestly, what in the world is going on? After being limited in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday because of a back injury, the dude was a full participant on Friday. You’d think that’s good news, right? But the Bengals are still listing him as questionable for the big game in Houston.
What’s the Deal With That Questionable Tag?
Seriously though, Bengals coach Zac Taylor dropped some interesting info during a Friday interview. He said Burrow “practiced in full today,” and that he “feels good.” So why the questionable tag if he’s feeling good and going full tilt? Turns out, it’s all about that back tightness. It’s just super unpredictable. Burrow might feel like a million bucks on Friday, but there’s always that chance he wakes up Sunday morning with an aching back. The Bengals are basically just covering their bases, which, fair enough, you gotta protect your star. They’re even thinking about elevating Josh Johnson from the practice squad as an emergency third quarterback, and Taylor admitted “It’s a possibility.” That tells you they’re gonna be watching Burrow’s back like a hawk over the next 48 hours before committing to anything. Even though Burrow was throwing more than a dozen passes during Friday’s practice that was open to the media and didn’t show any discomfort, this back stuff is no joke.
Burrow’s Drive and Week 1 Scare
This whole back situation kicked off during their Week 1 win over the Buccaneers. Burrow took some brutal hits, including one from Alex Anzalone on a third-and-6 play where he was fighting for a first down. Oof. You never want to see your QB take those shots, but Taylor isn’t about to tell Burrow to pump the brakes on his competitive fire. He said Burrow “has to go play football,” and that “This is the NFL.” Taylor added, “If you take that from him, now what do you have? You got a guy, you’re taking the stinger out of him a little bit. I’m not about that.” And if you needed any more proof of Burrow’s drive, just listen to what he said on Wednesday. When asked if he’d consider sitting out the Texans game as a precaution, his answer was straight up: “No, that’s ridiculous.” That’s the competitor we know, right?
We’re all waiting on pins and needles to see how that back responds come Sunday. With Burrow declaring his intention to play and Taylor trusting his QB’s competitive spirit, it really comes down to how his body feels. The Texans game is huge, and every single snap matters. Let’s hope that Friday full practice means he’s truly good to go for Sunday’s battle.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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