For the second straight week, the Bears will go into the weekend uncertain about the health of their opposing quarterback.
Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco told reporters Friday that he felt good but stopped short of saying whether he’d face the Bears on Sunday because of a right shoulder sprain.
The Bengals ruled him questionable for Sunday’s game despite him not practicing. Star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, who has been fighting a hip injiury, is doubtful.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor was non-committal about who would start. Jake Browning will go if Flacco can’t.
“I’ve never really talked about injuries before, so I don’t know what to say,” Flacco told reporters. “But I feel good.”
He sprained his shoulder Sunday against the Jets, didn’t practice Wednesday and was limited Thursday.
“I definitely wanted to go out there this week and feel good about what was going on,” Flacco said.
The Bears went into last weekend not sure whether the Ravens would start Lamar Jackson at quarterback. The Ravens called him a full participant on Friday but then ruled him out Saturday. In an unusual move, they said after the fact Jackson should have been called a limited participant Friday. They are subject to league discipline.
“When we found out he wasn’t going to be up, we pivoted to the next option,” Bears coach Ben Johnson said. “I think that’s what you do in this league — the great teams, the great players, the great coaches, they adjust. …
“That’s just par for the course, and it’s just another week of a little bit more of the same.”