Bengals QB Joe Burrow told reporters Wednesday that he will not play Week 18 and will be the backup for Brandon Allen.

Burrow will be the first of many to not play for the Bengals. Joe Mixon (COVID protocols) is also not playing Week 18.

Bengals QB Joe Burrow plans to play this week, mangled finger or not.

Related players: Brandon Allen

The pinky finger was pointing the wrong way and swelling up, according to Rapoport. Burrow was able to throw and came back into the game. He doesn't plan to miss time, but it remains to be seen how hard he can throw the ball and how accurate he can be, Rapoport went on to say. Allen is the backup to Burrow.

Bengals QB practiced in full again Friday and will be available if needed against the Houston Texans, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com.

It is great to see Allen did not suffer a serous knee injury when he went down two weeks ago. Ryan Finley played well against a stout defense Week 15, and gets an easier matchup against the Texans Week 16.

Bengals QB Brandon Allen did not practice Friday, according to Jay Morrison of The Athletic.

Allen has a miniscule chance of playing Monday night against the Steelers. Ryan Finley would start if Allen is out.