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5 Cincinnati Bengals who won’t be back in 2022

By Leigh Oleszczak

Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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Brandon Allen, Cincinnati Bengals (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /

2. Brandon Allen

When the Bengals signed Brandon Allen last year, it felt like a good signing. Here was a guy who spent the 2019 season actually starting for the Broncos as a rookie and looked the part of a dependable backup.

Allen stepped in when Joe Burrow went down with an injury and Ryan Finley wasn’t getting the job done and he was respectable, but nowhere near what Burrow was for this team. Allen finished his five starts with 925 yards, five touchdowns, and four picks.

Cincinnati liked what they saw from Allen that they inked him to a one-year deal to remain as Burrow’s backup for the 2021 season. Fortunately, we haven’t had to see the guy aside from when the Bengals have been blowing out the opposition. Allen has just one pass on the year but it went for a touchdown.

While Allen is a decent backup, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Bengals went with a more “proven” guy to have behind Burrow. Some names hitting free agency next year include Teddy Bridgewater, Jacoby Brissett, Andy Dalton (heh), Nick Foles, Marcus Mariota, and Tyrod Taylor. Any of these options would be upgrades over Allen.

Don’t be shocked if Allen isn’t back in the Queen City next year.