Bengals sign veteran QB AJ McCarron to practice squad; Joe Burrow questionable

National Football League

Updated Sep. 23, 2023 5:48 p.m. ET

Joe Burrow was listed as questionable on Saturday by the Cincinnati Bengals for their Monday night game against the Los Angeles Rams.

The star quarterback suffered a calf injury early in training camp that he aggravated late in last week’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He returned to practice on Thursday on a limited basis.

If Burrow can’t play, 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 get the start.

For insurance, the Bengals are reportedly signing AJ McCarron to their practice squad.

Talking to reporters Thursday, Burrow said he was day to day and didn’t know at that point if he’d be able to play on Monday in Cincinnati.

Burrow strained the muscle on the second day of on-field workouts in training camp on July 27. That sidelined him for more than a month, depriving him of valuable preseason reps with the offense. The Bengals lost their first two games for the second consecutive season.

For the Rams, Puka Nacua, who set a rookie record with 15 receptions in last week’s loss to the 49ers, was listed as questionable because of an oblique injury. Coach Sean McVay said Nacua was expected to play.

Cincinnati tight end Irv Smith Jr. was doubtful with a hamstring injury.

The Rams and Bengals will be facing each other for the first time since Los Angeles’ triumph in the Super Bowl after the 2021 season.

Receiver Tyler Boyd said Burrow’s teammates know the quarterback will do whatever it takes to play Monday.

“It makes you want to go beyond, and even further knowing that you got a guy like him who’s been through so much adversity,” Boyd said. “(He has) been hurt, been going through this and that and still willing to give what he can to help us win. With that being said, I’ll go out there and lay my life out there for him.”

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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