The Cincinnati Bengals will have star pivot Joe Burrow under centre for Monday night’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the news before the team confirmed it.
Rapoport also added that Burrow is not expected to be at 100 per cent due to his nagging calf injury, but he will suit up for the Bengals as the team looks to avoid starting the season 0-3.
The star quarterback suffered a calf injury early in training camp that he aggravated late in last week’s loss to Baltimore. He returned to practice on Thursday on a limited basis.
Backup Jake Browning, who was on the practice squad last season and threw his first and only NFL regular-season pass in the opening week loss to the Browns, will come in should Burrow be unable to finish the game.
Cincinnati also elevated a third quarterback, Reid Sinnett, from its practice squad earlier on Monday as an extra precaution.
The following players will be inactive for the Bengals.
WR Trenton Irwin
HB Chris Evans
CB DJ Ivey
C Trey Hill
OT Jackson Carman
TE Irv Smith Jr.
DT Jay Tufele
The Rams and Bengals will be facing each other for the first time since Los Angeles’s triumph in the Super Bowl two seasons ago.
— With files from the Associated Press