Joe Burrow said he is dealing with back tightness after missing part of Bengals practice ahead of Week 2 at the Houston Texans, but he expects to be ready to play.
Burrow was present for practice but did not take part in team stretch. He told reporters he feels good and described the issue as normal game-day soreness. He also said he did not really start feeling the tightness until after Sunday’s game.
What Burrow said about the injury
The Bengals quarterback said he was not sure exactly which play caused the problem. Sunday’s game included a hard hit to his throwing shoulder from Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Alex Anzalone in the first half, but Burrow did not point to that moment as the source of the discomfort.
“I got some good mental reps today at practice,” Burrow said, adding, “We’ll be ready to go.” He also said, “Every game is so important to me I’m gonna do what it takes to be out there.”
Why this matters for Cincinnati
Any Burrow injury note draws attention because of his recent history. In November 2020, he suffered a season-ending knee injury on a hit by current Bengals teammate Jonathan Allen against Washington. In November 2023, he suffered a season-ending wrist injury during a loss against the Baltimore Ravens. He also played in just eight games during the 2025 season after a turf-toe injury in a Week 2 win against Jacksonville.
That background is why even a limited practice appearance gets closely watched. Burrow is the centerpiece of the Bengals’ offense, and his availability shapes everything about the game plan for Week 2.
What comes next
Burrow said, “We’ll see how I feel tomorrow,” but also added that it “shouldn’t really” matter because the team gets a lot of mental reps and walk-through work. For now, the expectation remains that he will be available when the Bengals face the Houston Texans.
The Bengals entered Week 2 after a Week 1 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when Burrow went 25-of-35 for 254 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Houston comes in after a loss to the Buffalo Bills.
