The return of Joe Burrow means one fewer quarterback on the Cincinnati Bengals roster.
The Bengals waived journeyman Sean Clifford on Monday after coach Zac Taylor announced the expected return of their star QB.
Burrow, of course, has missed the past nine games after toe surgery, and Cincinnati is just 1-8 in that span. Both Jake Browning and Joe Flacco have started at quarterback, with the latter going 1-5 despite completing 61.6 percent of his passes and averaging 272.7 yards per game.
The Bengals (3-8) will take on the first-place Baltimore Ravens (6-5) on Thursday night at M&T Bank Stadium.
Sean Clifford Was The Bengals’ No. 3 Quarterback
The Bengals, of course, had been searching for consistent QB play in Burrow’s absence and started Browning and Flacco. Browning had been the backup QB behind Flacco, and Clifford was elevated to the active roster — and had been designated as the team’s No. 3 quarterback each of the past three games.
Clifford was a 2023 fifth-round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers from Penn State — after setting numerous passing records in State College, including the program’s all-time TD passes (85), passing yards (11,734) and completions (833).
Clifford has three carries for minus-2 yards in two games during the 2023 season but has not played an NFL snap since.
Clifford was waived by the Packers as part of the team’s final cuts this year. The Bengals then signed Clifford to their practice squad Sept. 16.
Quarterback Play Has Not Been The Bengals’ Issue
Flacco appears to be reaching the end of the line, which means Burrow’s return is welcome. Flacco has thrown pick-sixes in consecutive games, including a woeful decision on Marcus Jones’ 33-yard interception return for a touchdown in Cincinnati’s 26-20 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday.
But Burrow can’t play defense. Though he may give the Bengals a better chance to win, their next three games are against the Ravens and Buffalo Bills — and are unlikely to have Tee Higgins, who left the game against the Patriots after sustaining a concussion.
Cincinnati is 18th in the NFL in points per game (22.8) but of course, is dead last in the NFL in points-against per game (32.7). The Bengals are 32nd in the NFL in yards-against per game (415.8).
Two of the Bengals’ losses have come after they scored at least 38 points, and they have allowed at least 26 points in nine straight games.
The Bengals Are Still In The Playoff Hunt, Barely
The AFC North is wide open, since the Ravens have gone from 1-5 to first place after winning five straight games. Though they are tied for last place with the Cleveland Browns, the Bengals are still within striking distance in the AFC North, though barely.
Cincinnati is three games behind Baltimore with two head-to-heads against the Ravens — starting Thursday night. The Bengals are 2-1 against the AFC North, which could bode well if they end up needing tiebreakers against their division rivals.
But the Bengals will probably need to win out to even have a chance at the postseason, since they are closer to first place in their division than the No. 7 seed in the AFC.
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