Bengals Roster: Realistic expectations for Brandon Allen in 2022

Backup quarterback Brandon Allen is back on the Cincinnati Bengals roster for a third season. What should fans expect from Joe Burrow’s right-hand man in 2022?

After a solid career at Arkansas, Brandon Allen heard his name called in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He never played a snap with the Jaguars, though, and instead, spent his rookie campaign in Denver with the Broncos where he started three games.

The next year, Allen was picked up by the Bengals where he’s been ever since. He started five games and threw for 925 yards, five touchdowns, and four interceptions during that stretch. His best performance, and the only time the Bengals came away with a W while Allen was under center, was in Week 15 against the Texans. Allen threw for 371 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

Allen didn’t see much playing time in 2021, as Joe Burrow was mostly healthy throughout the year but he started the final game of the regular season. In that game, Allen underwhelmed, throwing for 136 yards and a touchdown.

Bengals Roster: What should fans expect from Brandon Allen in 2022?

A starting quarterback having to miss time for whatever reason is never a good thing but it’s especially true for a team like the Bengals, who have one of the best signal-callers in the league. Allen seems like a cool guy but if he’s inserted into the lineup for more than a handful of games, Cincinnati is in trouble. Burrow going down would ruin their season.

The hopeful expectation with Allen is that he only comes into games in blowouts and maybe starts the final game of the season if the team has locked up a playoff spot.

Most teams don’t want to see their backup quarterback play more than a game and that’s exactly the case in Cincinnati. Allen re-signed with the team likely because Burrow is comfortable with him and Zac Taylor is a big fan but fans wouldn’t have minded seeing a more reliable option sitting behind Joey Franchise should he be forced to miss time.

A realistic expectation for Allen is that we see him inserted into the lineup whenever Burrow has to exit due to injury or during a blowout (whether it’s going in the Bengals’ favor or not) and he might even end up having to start a game or two. Hopefully, Burrow stays healthy again in 2022.