Cincinnati Bengals Final Injury Report: An Ominous Joe Burrow Update

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is listed as “questionable” on the final injury report with his calf injury, and all head coach Zac Taylor would offer on the chances of Burrow playing Monday against the Rams was yet another “we’ll see.”

But Burrow’s teammates expect him to be inactive, per a league source.

What Are the Bengals Saying About Joe Burrow’s Status?

Despite those expectations, the Bengals will continue to monitor Burrow’s calf and are expected to take the decision up to game time.

“We’ve still got two days before the game. Forty-eight hours. More than 48 hours,” Taylor said. “It’s really day to day. We’ll have conversations and see where it goes. But he looked good today.”

Taylor declined to say if Burrow split first-team reps with Jake Browning today, but Burrow was listed as a lmited participant.

Burrow at practice going through stretch, so is Irv Smith Jr (hamstring) and Akeem Davis-Gaither (knee).

ADG and Irv were surprise additions to the injury report yesterday.

— Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) September 23, 2023

Reading Burrow’s body language after his cart ride with Mike Brown at Friday’s practice, it looked like he wasn’t happy with whatever the Bengals owner and president told him. Taylor declined to divulge what that conversation, or any talks that have taken place this week, were about.

Asked if there was a scenario where if he didn’t expect to play Burrow, he would still be active for the game, Taylor said “doubtful.”

The inactive list will be announced 90 minutes before kickoff Monday night.

After practice, the Bengals worked out two quarterbacks, AJ McCarron and Trace McSorley, in an attempt to bolster their QB3 spot after the Patriots signed Will Grier off the Cincinnati practice squad on Thursday.

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The Bengals ended up signing McCarron and waiving defensive end Garrett Nelson.

Also on the injury report is tight end Irv Smith Jr., who is listed as doubtful with a hamstring injury he suffered in Friday’s practice. The Bengals will likely elevate Tanner Hudson from the practice squad to give them some depth behind Drew Sample and Mitch Wilcox against the Rams.