Following Joe Burrow’s unexpected sidelining in Week 2, the Cincinnati Bengals faced a critical choice about their offense. The job under center fell on backup QB Jake Browning. It might take Burrow at least 3 months to get back in game shape. But the hole in the depth chart could not be ignored. The Cincinnati Bengals have swiftly added two quarterbacks to their practice squad, aiming to strengthen their backup options as the season intensifies. HC Zac Taylor wasted no time shoring up the depth chart by bringing in Mike White and Sean Clifford, signaling a strategic move to maintain offensive stability.

As Adam Schefter posted on his Instagram, “Bengals are also signing QB Mike White to their practice squad, per source. In his first NFL start on Oct. 21, 2021, which came against the Bengals, White threw for 405 yards and led New York to a 34-31 upset victory over Cincinnati. Now White is a Bengal. So, both White and Sean Clifford added to Cincinnati’s practice squad.” Mike White’s arrival is notable. His 2021 campaign with the Jets was a reminder of his capability under pressure, and the Bengals have seen it firsthand. White, recently released by the Bills during their roster cutdowns, now joins the Bengals after previous stints featuring solid playtime with the Jets and the Dolphins. If he gets elevated to the active roster, his veteran experience could prove vital as Cincinnati navigates the coming weeks.

Alongside White, Sean Clifford also brings more depth. Clifford, a Cincinnati native and former Packers backup, enters this phase after being cut during final roster decisions. Despite limited NFL exposure, Clifford’s local roots and Penn State pedigree offer intriguing depth potential for the Bengals. Both quarterbacks are expected to support Jake Browning, but will this be enough?

The dual signing reflects Zac Taylor’s urgent prioritization of quarterback depth. It’s a crucial move to avoid risking the team’s offensive rhythm. Given the unpredictable nature of ‌NFL seasons and mounting injury concerns across the league, adding experienced and motivated QBs to the practice squad provides a cushion and competitive spark behind the scenes. The question now will be how fast White and Clifford sync up with Coach Taylor’s playbooks in Burrow’s absence. But given Burrow’s injury record, the new QBs’ transitions become more critical than ever.

Joe Burrow’s injury history and the latest setback

Joe Burrow was consistently being pressured by the Jaguars’ defense. Having already taken one sack, Burrow got sacked again in the second quarter by Arik Armstead. As Burrow stayed on the ground, visibly in pain, he was looking at his left ankle. The trainers rushed to him, and helped him to the injury tent. At halftime, Burrow went back to the locker room and got the turf toe diagnosis. The injury would require surgery, and is expected to sideline him for approximately three months, maybe even longer. But Zac Taylor has not issued any specific return timeline for Burrow, and Adam Schefter painted a grim picture instead.

As Schefter noted, “Joe Burrow needs toe surgery. He is out a minimum of toe surgery. It is official, he is going to have that toe surgery, and he is going to be lost. Now, the question will be whether he’ll be back this season, but there’s a real possibility that Joe Burrow has played his last down this season for the Bengals. The Bengals’ season has been remade and he’s going to be lost for an indefinite period here.”

This injury adds to the pattern of physical adversity Burrow has faced throughout his NFL tenure, and even back in college. Way back in 2017 at Ohio State, Burrow broke a bone in his throwing hand. He also played through a rib cartilage tear in 2020 when he played for LSU. In recent years, the injuries have increased in severity. In November 2020, during Burrow’s rookie campaign, burrow dislocated his pinky finger after a sack, but played through it. 2022 saw him get injured twice. One, an aggravated knee, and the other an MCL sprain at the Super Bowl. In 2023, Burrow strained his calf at training camp, but managed to suit up for the season. He played all the way through Week 11, when he tore a wrist ligament that ended his season.

Burrow’s recent injuries are also a reference on the poor execution of the Bengals’ O-Line. Zac Taylor has shored up the QB room for now. But the bigger challenge now will be to balance aggression with safeguarding their backups, as well as their MVP candidate this season. How will they pivot? That remains to be seen in the coming weeks.