No one is questioning Joe Burrow as the Cincinnati Bengals‘ QB1, but the backup quarterback position has more room for doubt. Will Brandon Allen or Jake Browning make the final roster?
Assuming the Bengals roster two quarterbacks in 2022, there’s only one spot left in the QB room up for grabs.
On Tuesday, the Bengals waived undrafted free agent Drew Plitt, who provided a spark to the offense in the preseason but probably wasn’t considered a reliable enough backup.
That leaves Brandon Allen and Jake Browning vying for the QB2 role, with Allen possibly having the slight edge due to his experience in the Bengals’ offensive scheme.
Allen, who is entering his third year in Cincinnati, appears beloved by coaches and by all accounts, this is his job to lose. The former sixth-round pick has a 2-7 career record; he started one game and played in six games last season and threw for 149 yards and two touchdowns against zero interceptions.
Bengals’ final QB room will most likely feature Joe Burrow and Brandon Allen
His one start came in Week 18 against the Cleveland Browns, when the Bengals played mostly second- and third- stringers having already secured the AFC North title. In 2022, the Bengals’ season could come down to the wire and they may need to rely on a quarterback who can actually string together a few wins in the regular season if Burrow has to miss time.
Is Allen the answer? Not necessarily, but it’s not like Cincinnati has a better option.
Neither the incumbent Allen nor the challenging Browning have particularly impressed this preseason, and neither was able to record a touchdown in Sunday’s game against the Giants.
Even if Browning were to record a perfect performance in the Bengals’ final preseason game, the Bengals are looking for reliability, rather than pure talent, in the backup quarterback room, and Allen seems primed to step into the QB2 role yet again in 2022.
Having an above-average backup quarterback is a luxury in the NFL, and Cincy certainly isn’t spending money on a reserve position.
No surprises or curveballs here — Joe Burrow is the Bengals’ main guy, and Brandon Allen will get to play tag with him for another year.