The last quarterback not named Joe Burrow to start a game for the Bengals was Brandon Allen, who finished 6-of-21 for 48 yards, two interceptions and a 2.3 passer rating in Week 17 of the 2020 season. Needless to say, Cincinnati isn't the same team when Joe Burrow isn't on the field.
With Burrow suffering a season-ending wrist injury, per the team, his streak of 42 consecutive starts since returning from a torn ACL is over. Burrow, who suffered the injury Thursday night against the Ravens, had a tough time throwing the ball when testing out his wrist on the sideline in Baltimore, and he didn't return to the game for the second half.
Jake Browning entered in place of Burrow, but the offense didn't find much success with the former Washington Huskies QB under center until the game was out of reach. What does the rest of the Bengals' quarterback depth chart look like?
MORE: Latest updates on Joe Burrow's wrist injury
Here's what you need to know about Cincinnati's quarterback options behind Burrow.
Bengals QB depth chart
1. Joe Burrow
Burrow is, of course, the Bengals' starting quarterback. The 26-year-old became the highest-paid player in NFL history in September, inking a five-year, $275 million deal just days before the start of the 2023 season.
Burrow battled a right calf injury throughout training camp and into the regular season, appearing hobbled at times in September, but he recovered well from the malady. Now, a wrist injury is threatening Burrow's availability with the Bengals' season in a more dire place than expected at 5-5.
The fourth-year QB had started 42 consecutive games for the Bengals, starting each of Cincinnati's games in 2021 and 2022 after suffering a torn ACL late in his rookie season. Ryan Finley and Brandon Allen made appearances for the Bengals when Burrow missed that time in 2020, but the options behind the Heisman Trophy winner have changed over the years.
2. Jake Browning
Once Burrow exited vs. Baltimore, the Bengals turned over the keys of the offense to Browning — the only backup QB on their depth chart.
Browning went undrafted in 2018 after four impressive seasons at Washington. The 2016 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year threw for over 12,000 yards in college, tossing 94 touchdowns to just 34 interceptions with a 64.6 percent completion rate.
In five NFL seasons, this is the first time Browning has made a team's active roster.
He has only played four snaps in his NFL career — coming at the end of the Bengals' Week 1 loss to the Browns — and he's never completed a pass.
This preseason, Browning threw for 277 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions with a 71.1 completion percentage over three games.
MORE: Did Bengals conceal Joe Burrow's wrist injury?
3. A.J. McCarron
Former Bengals backup A.J. McCarron was brought back by Cincinnati as insurance when Burrow was questionable with a calf injury entering Week 3. He remains on the team's practice squad as their emergency third quarterback.
McCarron spent the first four seasons of his career with the Bengals, largely as a backup to Andy Dalton. He started a playoff game against the Steelers but made only one start with the Texans after leaving Cincinnati in free agency.
A 2014 fifth-round pick who won national championships at Alabama, McCarron spent time with the XFL's St. Louis Battlehawks before reuniting with the Bengals. He led the XFL in touchdown passes and passer rating.
If Burrow misses time and no new quarterback surpasses him on the depth chart, McCarron would be in line for an elevation to the active roster.
How long is Joe Burrow out?
ESPN's Adam Schefter was the first to report Friday afternoon that Burrow "is out for the remainder of the season."
The team, which confirmed the report soon after, had hoped that the 10 days between games would be time enough for him to return, but clearly follow-up testing proved otherwise — in the worst way.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor had said after the game that Burrow appeared to have a sprained wrist, which didn't offer much of a timeline but seemed to hint that the quarterback didn't suffer a fracture.
Still, the mere fact Burrow couldn't throw the ball on the sideline during Thursday's loss in Baltimore didn't bode well for a rapid recovery.
Now, it appears the Bengals be looking again to add insurance at the quarterback position.
MORE: Latest injury updates on Ravens TE Mark Andrews
Top NFL free-agent QBs
Among veteran quarterbacks, there are a few notable names still available:
- Matt Ryan
- Nick Foles
- Colt McCoy
- Joe Flacco
If the Bengals feel comfortable with Browning or McCarron, they could still look to add a quarterback. However, it's somewhat unlikely that a proven veteran option is willing to sign just to be a third-string option.
Matt Ryan, for example, has said he's not retiring because the right situation could still arise, but the right situation would likely be one in which he's assured of some playing time. It isn't clear whether the Bengals want or even need an outside quarterback to start games.
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