Joe Burrow battles through back tightness to face Houston, while the Texans sweat over Nico Collins’ hamstring and a thinning linebacker corps ahead of Sunday’s showdown.
Below are the most notable players on the injury report as of Thursday evening for both the Houston Texans and Cincinnati Bengals.
Player - Thursday practice designation
Bengals
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday while dealing with back tightness. He told the media he plans to play Sunday, and the only thing that could keep him out of the action is surgery.
He suffered the injury after taking a hard hit from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Alex Anzalone on a scramble. Burrow threw for 254 yards and a touchdown in the Bengals' Week 1 win.
DL BJ Hill - Limited
BJ Hill rejoined the Bengals at training camp after a long recovery from an ankle injury that he suffered in 2025. Now he has surprisingly popped up on the injury report with an Achilles issue. The veteran played just 24 snaps in week one against the Bucs.
Jake Liscow of LockedOn points out that Hill’s Achilles injury is obviously concerning.
DL Shemar Stewart - Full
Stewart suffered a hyperextended left knee during the first practice of training camp. The gruesome-looking injury turned out to be the best-case scenario after it was determined he would miss only about a month. He rejoined practice near the end of training camp and missed week one.
He told reporters Thursday that he is excited to get back on the field and is trending that way after being a full participant in practice Thursday.
Texans
WR Nico Collins - DNP
This was probably the biggest injury development for the Texans. Collins tweaked his hamstring in practice after a strong Week 1 game for Houston, in which he caught seven passes on 10 targets for 75 yards and a score.
Collins also dealt with a hamstring strain in 2024 and a concussion in 2025.
DL Jadeveon Clowney - DNP
Clowney was expected to practice yesterday but couldn’t because of a knee injury. The 33-year-old pass rusher recorded a sack against the Bills in week one and is part of the Texans' stellar defensive front, alongside Will Anderson.
LB Jake Hummel - DNP
He suffered a groin injury in week one after fellow linebacker Henry To’oto’o was already injured and was recently placed on IR. The Texans are very thin at linebacker right now.
OL Ed Ingram - Limited
Texans guard Ed Ingram was a surprise pop-up on the injury report, limited by a groin injury. This game on Sunday could very well be decided in the trenches, and if the Texans are lacking, that would be a big boost for the Bengals defensive line, which showed out in week one.
