It remains to be seen who the Cincinnati Bengals are putting their faith in as their starting quarterback following Joe Burrow re-aggravating his calf injury. The Bengals have listed Burrow as “questionable” for Monday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, but none of their actions/comments have pointed towards the former No. 1 overall pick being under center.
However, they’re also making sure they have some options.
After multiple reporters stated that A.J. McCarron was at the Bengals facility participating in a workout Saturday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that he would be signing with the team’s practice squad. The expectation is that the Bengals will call up McCarron from the practice squad to the active roster, in the event that Burrow can’t go. That would make him the backup quarterback behind Jake Browning against the Rams.
The #Bengals are signing FA QB AJ McCarron to their practice squad, source said. Some starting experience on the roster in case Joe Burrow (calf) can’t go.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 23, 2023
This move comes after Cincinnati went out and signed veteran backup quarterback Reid Sinnett to their practice squad earlier this week.
McCarron, who played college football at Alabama, joins the Bengals after spending the last season as the quarterback for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the XFL, where he led the league with 24 touchdown passes. After spending 2014-17 with the Bengals, McCarron had a few journeyman seasons with the Bills, Raiders, Texans and Falcons. He last appeared in the NFL with Atlanta in 2021.
He’s appeared in 17 NFL games, starting four (2-2), and has earned a 62.6 completion percentage, 1,173 passing yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions.
