Bengals Sign a Quarterback With Joe Burrow Unable To Practice

The Cincinnati Bengals announced two transactions on Sunday, signing quarterback Reid Sinnett and placing tackle Devin Cochran on injured reserve.

Sinnett, 26, entered the NFL as an undrafted college free agent for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound quarterback has also been with the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles, and he was assigned to the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL but played just one game in 2023 before breaking his foot.

What Will Reid Sinnett’s Role Be With the Cincinnati Bengals?

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said Friday the team planned to sign a quarterback in the wake of the calf strain that is expected to keep Joe Burrow out of action for several weeks. The team also had Drew Plitt in for a workout after the Cincinnati native was with the Bengals during training camp last year.

The signing of Sinnett will take some of the workload off backup quarterbacks Jake Browning and Trevor Siemian as they battle for the backup job to Burrow.

Browning, who looked impressive Friday in the team’s first practice without Burrow, and Siemian, who played well Saturday during the practice inside Paycor Stadium, will continue their battle to be the starter for however long Burrow is out — and to be the backup once he returns.

Sinnett has appeared in six preseason games, three with the Dolphins and three with the Eagles, completing 55 of 93 passes for 655 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. In the 2021 preseason finale at Paul Brown Stadium, Sinnett was 22 of 33 for 343 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in a 29-26 victory against the Bengals.

Cochran, a 2022 UDFA out of Georgia Tech, is still rehabbing a knee injury that initially landed him on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list on July 24. The move to IR creates an opening for Sinnett on the 90-man roster and means Cochran will not be eligible to play for the team this season.

Sunday was the players’ first off day of training camp. Browning, Siemian, Sinnett, and the rest of the team will be back on the practice field at 2 p.m. ET on Monday.