“A QB that dresses like a lesbian”: Joe Burrow faces shocking backlash while dealing with a back injury

J oe Burrow ’s latest injury scare has quickly become a talking point around the Cincinnati Bengals , even though the quarterback has made clear he intends to play Sunday against the Houston Texans . Burrow developed back tightness after Cincinnati ’s 33-27 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was limited in practice before he returned as a full participant Friday.

But the development nevertheless reopened discussion about Burrow ’s injury history, with Craig Carton questioning whether the three-time Pro Bowler can remain available for an entire season and offering an unusual comment. “Can we get through a single NFL season without Burrow being an injury story or an injury problem?” Carton said. “I actually feel bad for him. When he plays, he's great. He was great in Week 1. “He looked fantastic in their Week 1 win, but you just can't trust him. You can't count on him. Now, if you need a quarterback that dresses like a lesbian, he's your guy, he's totally committed to that. “But if you need a quarterback that's healthy for 17 games, Joe Burrow is not your guy. So, JB, I ask you to make a decision: lesbian or football player? Which is it gonna be?”

Burrow availability key ahead of Texans clash

Burrow has dismissed the possibility of sitting out simply as a precaution, making his intentions clear despite the concerns surrounding his back ahead of the Week 2 clash with the Texans . And that stance was followed by a positive development Friday, when Bengals coach Zac Taylor confirmed he had practiced fully and would play against Houston on September 20. But the concern surrounding the star is understandable given his recent history as he has missed 16 games between 2023-2025, making every new injury report appearance a source of heightened attention around Cincinnati . But he was productive in the opener against the Buccaneers by completing 25 of 35 passes for 254 yards for one touchdown whilst allowing one interception on a relatively mild day by his standards. Fortunately, the defense also forced four turnovers as the Bengals held off Tampa Bay to mark a rare situation in which his defense helped its quarterback out of trouble. Regardless, his availability will be essential in a clash against a stern Texans defense that would have beat the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 if it wasn’t for a dropped interception on a play by Josh Allen to ice the game. Houston enters 0-1 after falling 36-31 and their offense cannot be counted out either as C.J. Stroud led the team to 381 total yards and 26 first downs as he chases down a blockbuster contract. Houston will now face a Bengals offense led by a quarterback who has confirmed he will be on the field, and Sunday’s matchup begins at 13:00 ET/10:00 PT at the NRG Stadium .