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The Cincinnati Bengals are working out free agent quarterbacks heading into Week 5 of the NFL season.
No, Andy Dalton isn’t in jeopardy of losing his job as a starter and no, AJ McCarron isn’t in jeopardy of losing his job as a backup.
But, McCarron appeared on the Bengals’ injury report on Wednesday with an Achilles injury and as a result the Bengals may need a new backup quarterback while he recovers. McCarron took three snaps at the end of the Bengals’ Week 4 win over the Browns as Cincinnati finished off a blow out in Cleveland. It’s unclear if the injury occurred on one of those snaps or in practice.
As a result, the Bengals worked out free agent quarterbacks Matt Barkley, Matt McGloin and T.J. Yates, per Field Yates.
Source: after working out for the Titans earlier this week, QBs Matt Barkley, Matt McGloin and T.J. Yates worked out for the Bengals today.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 5, 2017
Hearing Yates’ name in association with the Bengals is always frightening. As a backup turned starting quarterback for the 2011 Texans, Yates beat the Bengals in the regular season and then again the playoffs. He got the Texans their first playoff win back in January 2012, which was Dalton’s first playoff appearance and first playoff loss.
He also beat the then-undefeated Bengals as the Texans backup quarterback (signed off the street days before) in Week 10 of the 2015 season. Yates has spent time with the Texans, Falcons, Dolphins and Bills. He was released from the Bills in September.
Barkley, a fifth year player, has spent time with the Eagles, Cardinals and Bears, appearing in 11 games since 2013 and completing 159 of 266 passing attempts for 1,911 yards, 8 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.
McGloin is also a fifth year player. He spent four seasons with the Raiders, appearing in 13 games and completing 161 of 277 passes for 1,868 yards, 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Bengals quarterback Jeff Driskel is currently on Injured Reserve and cannot practice until Week 7 or play until Week 9. That’s if the Bengals chose to use one of their two IR-return designations on the third string quarterback.
It’s unclear if the Bengals actually intend on signing one of the players they worked out on Thursday but if McCarron isn’t healthy enough to be active on Sunday when the Bengals take on the Bills, the team may need to sign an emergency backup quarterback to be present and ready to go should an injury occur to Dalton.