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The Cincinnati Bengals have signed QB Kyle Shurmur to the practice squad, the team announced Thursday.
Shurmur, weighing in at 6-4 and 225 pounds, is a first-year player out of Vanderbilt. He was originally a college free agent signee of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019. He spent time on the Chiefs’ practice squad and active roster as a rookie but did not see game action. He has not been with an NFL team thus far this season.
The Bengals are likely making this move in light of Brandon Allen’s leg injury suffered in Week 14. That may have his status in jeopardy for Week 15 vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers. If he’s out, Ryan Finley will likely start, but the Bengals have to find a backup behind him. The team also has Kevin Hogan on the practice squad.
The good thing about this season is the Bengals won’t have to necessarily burn a roster spot on a third quarterback. If Allen can’t go and Finley starts, the Bengals can elevate Shurmur or Hogan to the gameday roster Monday, then revert back to the practice squad Tuesday.