Joe Burrow to Play Week 2 Despite Back Tightness, Insists It’s Typical Game-Day Soreness

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has demonstrated MVP-caliber potential, but his availability has been inconsistent due to injuries. Throughout his career, he has sidelined significant time with knee, wrist, and foot ailments.

Concerns arose on Monday when Burrow limited his throwing during the open segment of Bengals practice. However, he alleviated worries afterward, attributing his condition to back tightness and typical game-day soreness, and confirmed his availability for the Week 2 matchup against the Houston Texans.

Burrow emphasized that it would be ‘ridiculous’ to doubt his participation in Sunday’s game.

Nevertheless, Burrow declined to specify his expected practice involvement for the remainder of the week.

The precise timing of Burrow’s injury remains uncertain, although he absorbed a significant hit near his throwing shoulder during a scramble late in the first half on Sunday.

On Wednesday, Burrow stated he could not identify a specific play that caused the injury. He noted feeling back tightness following Sunday’s game and expressed comfort with a second-quarter scramble hit, as it sustained the team’s offensive drive.

Burrow remained in the game after that incident, completing 11 of 15 passes for 121 yards in the second half of the Bengals’ 33-27 Week 1 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite throwing a pick-six in the second half, he showed no visible limitations as Cincinnati secured the win.

For the game, Burrow finished 25-of-35 for 254 passing yards, with one touchdown and one interception.

Considering Burrow’s injury history — including a rookie-season ACL tear that cost him six games, a wrist injury in 2023 that similarly limited him to six games, and a foot injury last season that restricted him to just eight appearances — his current ailment understandably raises concerns among fans.

In the three seasons where Burrow has maintained full availability, he has earned two Comeback Player of the Year awards, secured two Pro Bowl selections, and finished as an MVP runner-up on two occasions.

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