CINCINNATI -- The Bengals will officially have their starting quarterback this weekend.
Joe Burrow was a full participant at Friday's practice and is set to play in this week's road contest against the Houston Texans, coach Zac Taylor said. Burrow was limited on Wednesday and Thursday with back tightness that flared up following the team's Week 1 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Taylor said he "feels good" about Burrow's availability for the game and doesn't feel as if Burrow needs to mitigate injury risk, whether it be this weekend or moving forward.
"He's a competitor," Taylor said. "Take that from him and now what do you have? You got a guy who you've taken the stinger out of him a little bit. I'm not about that."
In the first game of the season, Burrow was 25-of-35 for 254 yards, one touchdown and an interception that was returned for a touchdown. He was sacked once and took very few hits -- except for on one scramble.
Near the end of the first quarter, Burrow scrambled for 6 yards to convert a third down. He was hit hard by Tampa Bay linebacker Alex Anzalone at the intersection of the sideline and the first-down marker.
Taylor used that play as an example of Burrow's competitiveness.
"He's got to go play football," Taylor said. "This is the NFL. And of course we want him to be safe and healthy. I'm not comfortable saying don't go get the first down on third-[and]-8 and be 2 yards short and [then] let's go for it."
Throughout the week, Burrow strongly indicated that he would be healthy enough to play against the Texans despite his limited usage early. On Wednesday, he made no significant throws before ramping up his activity as the week went on.
"People that play tackle football from third grade, like I did, and all contact sports, it's part of the game," Burrow said Wednesday of coping with injuries. "So, we've been dealing with this since we were little. It's no big deal."
The Bengals are looking to start the season with a 2-0 record for the second straight year. They are hoping for a better long-term outlook, however. In last year's Week 2 victory, Burrow sustained a turf toe injury that sidelined him for the following nine weeks. That marked the third time in his career that he landed on injured reserve (2020, knee; 2023, wrist).
In other injury news, Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart will make his season debut. He missed the first game as he continued to recover from a hyperextended left knee that he suffered on the first practice of training camp.
"Obviously the talent we drafted in the first round, that's why he's here," Taylor said. "And so I'm just excited to get him back in the fold and get him some reps."
Bengals defensive tackle B.J. Hill is expected to be listed as questionable after dealing with Achilles soreness on Thursday, Taylor said. He did not practice Friday.
