The Cincinnati Bengals elevated quarterback Josh Johnson and linebacker Joe Giles-Harris from the practice squad to the active roster for Sunday’s Week 2 game against the Houston Texans, giving Cincinnati additional quarterback insurance while Joe Burrow remains listed as questionable with back tightness.
The move is a material follow-up to FSN’s earlier coverage of Burrow being limited by the back issue. Burrow practiced fully Friday and has indicated he expects to play, but Cincinnati still chose to carry a third quarterback into game day.
Josh Johnson gives Cincinnati another quarterback option
The Bengals announced Saturday that Johnson and Giles-Harris were elevated under the NFL’s standard practice-squad elevation rules. Both players will automatically revert to the practice squad after the game unless Cincinnati makes a separate roster move.
Johnson’s elevation gives the Bengals another experienced quarterback behind Burrow and Joe Flacco. Head coach Zac Taylor had said Friday that Cincinnati was considering elevating Johnson even though Burrow had returned to full participation.
The roster move should not be read as a declaration that Burrow will sit. Cincinnati’s own Friday update said Taylor felt good about Burrow’s availability after the quarterback practiced fully for the first time during the week. The elevation instead gives the Bengals another layer of protection if Burrow has a setback before or during the game.
Burrow progressed to a full practice Friday
Burrow had been limited earlier in the week because of back soreness after taking a hit in Cincinnati’s Week 1 victory over Tampa Bay. By Friday, he had progressed to full participation.
The Bengals still carried a questionable designation into the weekend, which preserves flexibility until the team submits its inactive list. Burrow has said he plans to play, and the team’s public comments have remained optimistic.
That makes Saturday’s Johnson elevation a contingency move rather than a clear change in Burrow’s expected starting status.
Joe Flacco remains the primary backup
Flacco remains the Bengals’ No. 2 quarterback. Johnson’s presence gives Cincinnati a third veteran option if needed and allows the coaching staff to enter Sunday without having to make a last-minute roster move if Burrow’s back tightness becomes an issue during warmups.
Johnson, 39, has spent time with multiple NFL teams and returned to Cincinnati’s practice squad at the start of September. His experience makes him a natural emergency option for a week in which the starter has carried an injury designation.
Joe Giles-Harris adds linebacker and special-teams depth
The Bengals also elevated Giles-Harris for the second straight week. He was elevated for the opener and now gives Cincinnati another linebacker and special-teams option against Houston.
Because both moves are standard elevations, neither requires Cincinnati to permanently remove another player from the 53-man roster.
What changes for Bengals-Texans
The most important takeaway is that Burrow’s status has not worsened publicly. He practiced fully Friday and remains expected to play, but the Bengals are carrying extra quarterback depth in case the back issue changes the plan.
Cincinnati will make the final call with its game-day inactive list. If Burrow is active as expected, Flacco remains the backup and Johnson gives the team another option behind him. If Burrow has an unexpected setback, the Bengals will already have the additional quarterback on the game-day roster.
The roster decision gives Cincinnati flexibility without changing the public expectation that Burrow will start.
Sources
- Cincinnati Bengals: Josh Johnson and Joe Giles-Harris elevated for Week 2 (September 19, 2026)
- Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow practices fully Friday after back soreness (September 18, 2026)
- ESPN: Cincinnati Bengals transactions (accessed September 19, 2026)