The Cincinnati Bengals are signing a former Green Bay Packers quarterback just one day after inquiring about a possible trade for Packers backup Malik Willis.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bengals are signing former Packers backup quarterback and 2023 fifth-round pick Sean Clifford to their practice squad on Tuesday, adding another signal-caller to the room after losing starter Joe Burrow to an injury.
Burrow suffered a turf toe injury in Week 2’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars that will require surgery and sideline him for at least the next three months, putting the Bengals in a situation where they must try to salvage a 2-0 start without their Pro Bowl starter.
Now, Clifford — who spent his rookie season as the backup to Packers starter Jordan Love — will have an opportunity to be part of the solution for Cincinnati. While it is unclear at this stage if Clifford is the third- or fourth-string option behind active-roster quarterback Jake Browning and Brett Rypien, as they also signed veteran Mike White.
The Bengals’ quarterback situation could become fluid, however, if Browning is unable to live up as the replacement for Burrow in the coming weeks — and that could serve Clifford well as he tries to earn his way back onto an NFL 53-man roster in 2025.
Bengals Called About Malik Willis’ Trade Availability
Schefter had reported Monday that the Bengals were making calls around to free-agent quarterbacks to evaluate their options after losing Burrow to a significant toe injury.
According to Packer Report’s Easton Butler, though, the Bengals did more than just talk to free agents about helping out their quarterback room, writing Monday on X that the Packers also received a call from the Bengals about Willis’ availability in a trade.
The Bengals’ series of roster moves on Tuesday suggests they have abandoned any plans or interest they had in pursuing Willis from the Packers, but the Packers were unlikely to engage in a meaningful discussion about trading their No. 2 quarterback anyway.
While the Packers are hoping Willis rarely plays in 2025, he has established himself as a reliable backup behind Love and is likely seen as too valuable to trade away for cheap. He completed 25-of-23 passes (75.8%) for 324 yards with three touchdowns and zero picks in his two spot starts for Love early in 2025, helping the Packers win both games.
Packers Are Also Evaluating a Signing at Quarterback
The Bengals have taken a few of the free-agent quarterbacks off the market after signing both Clifford and White to their practice squad, but there is at least one still-available quarterback out there who has caught the Packers’ attention in recent days.
According to the NFL’s official transaction wire, the Packers hosted former Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson for a visit — originally reported as a tryout — on Monday, indicating they might be considering a change for the No. 3 quarterback role on their depth.
Clayton Tune, a former Arizona Cardinals fifth-round draft pick, currently occupies the Packers’ practice squad as their third-string quarterback behind Love and Willis, but he is a relatively recent addition. If he has not impressed the Packers like they thought he would behind the scenes, perhaps they would consider dropping him for the ex-Brown.
Interestingly, Tune, Thompson-Robinson and Clifford were all taken in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL draft. Tune went No. 139 overall to the Cardinals, one spot before the Browns selected Thompson-Robinson. The Packers took Clifford with the 149th pick.
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