Bengals bringing in experienced quarterbacks following Joe Burrow’s significant injury

Bengals Adjust Quarterback Roster After Burrow’s Injury

The Bengals have officially placed quarterback Joe Burrow on injured reserve as of Tuesday, leading to some significant changes in their quarterback lineup. With Burrow sidelined, Jake Browning returns to his starting role, creating a bit of a shuffle behind him.

Initially, the team has brought Brett Lipien in as the backup after promoting him from the practice squad. Additionally, veterans Mike White and Sean Clifford have signed with the practice squad, according to various reports.

Mike White, who is 30, has spent most of his NFL career in the AFC East, aside from a brief period with the Cowboys in his rookie year in 2018. Most recently, he played with the Bills. During the 2021 season, while playing for the Jets, he notably stepped in for an injured Zach Wilson and guided the Jets to a surprising victory over the Bengals, which was quite the moment for him.

White had signed a two-year deal with the Dolphins in March 2023, but wasn’t with the team long, being released that August before joining the Bills again. Over the course of 15 games, he managed to throw nine touchdowns against 13 interceptions, which suggests some ups and downs.

Meanwhile, Sean Clifford, who’s 27, spent the last two seasons with the Packers after being drafted in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He only appeared in two regular season games this year.

Burrow’s injury is suspected to be a grade 3 turf toe incident, which he likely sustained during a recent game, and it appears he might need surgery, potentially keeping him out for a long stretch. In his absence, Browning led the team to a 31-27 win against the Jaguars, completing 21 of 32 passes for 241 yards, along with two touchdowns and three interceptions.

This victory marked the Bengals’ first 3-0 start since 2015, a noteworthy achievement for the team.

As Burrow continues to recover, all eyes will be on Browning and how he performs against the Vikings, particularly with the potential for Carson Wentz to start for Minnesota in place of JJ McCarthy.