Free agent QBs the Bengals could sign with Joe Burrow out

The Bengals could add an arm.

Update: It looks like the Bengals have reached a decision on who their new quarterback will be.

According to Olivia Ray, the Bengals will sign Drew Plitt to the practice squad.

If that’s the case, look for the Bengals to announce AJ McCarron being signed to the 53-man roster and Plitt taking his spot on the 16-man practice squad.

Cincinnati Bengals fans got the unfortunate news of Joe Burrow’s MRI on his right wrist. After leaving the game, head coach Zac Taylor said Burrow suffered what appears to be a sprained wrist.

But after testing, it was confirmed that Burrow tore ligaments in his wrist and will likely miss the remainder of the season.

With Burrow missing significant time, the Bengals will likely add a quarterback to either the practice squad or the active roster. Jake Browning is currently second on the depth chart, with A.J. McCarron currently holding down a practice squad slot.

If the Bengals do look outside of the building, where do they go? It could depend on what role they expect said quarterback to fill.

Reid Sinnett

If the Bengals are prepared to go with Browning as the starter in Burrow’s absence (which is likely), they may opt to bring back a familiar face in Sinnett. In this situation, McCarron would move in to the backup role, and Sinnett, who is familiar with the offense after two stints with the team this season, would sign to the practice squad.

Matt Ryan

While Ryan has spent this season in the TV booth, but has made it clear he isn’t fully retired. It is hard to see Ryan leaving television for anything other than a starting job. If, for some reason, the Bengals felt Browning didn’t give them the best chance to win, they could call Ryan to fill in if they feel a veteran presence can help them get to the postseason.

Joe Flacco

Flacco was reportedly in Cleveland for a workout following Deshaun Watson’s season-ending shoulder injury, so he is clearly motivated to play. He reportedly will not sign with Cleveland, so the Bengals could take a look. With plenty of AFC North experience, Flacco could sign as even the backup for Browning if the coaches don’t trust McCarron in that role. Flacco started games for the New York Jets just last season.

Nick Foles

Is Foles the most famous backup ever? After leading the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl, Foles has bounced around the league and made a great living doing so. If Foles still has the itch to be on an NFL roster, an extended absence for Burrow could mean him getting another shot.

Trevor Siemian

The Bengals could do the same as they would with Sinnett in signing Siemian. After battling with Browning for the backup job through training camp, Siemian got a lot of reps in Zac Taylor’s system. While he didn’t win the job, he does offer NFL experience. However, he’s currently on the New York Jets’ practice squad, so the Bengals would have to sign him to the 53-man roster, and that’s if the Jets don’t block the move.

Browning is likely the starter going forward, but the Bengals will almost certainly add to the quarterback room as they move forward without their franchise quarterback.