There are zero question marks about who the starting quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals is. Joe Burrow is one of the brightest young stars in the NFL, and the Bengals have their star quarterback for now and well into the future.
However, like the NFL likes to remind us, things change in a second, and with Burrow nursing a calf injury that occurred in the first week of training camp, the Bengals find themselves looking at their quarterback depth chart looking to see what they may have if Burrow has to miss time either now or in the future.
Trevor Siemian Is the Next Man Up
While nobody is hitting the panic button on Burrow and his calf strain and what the effect on the 2023 season may be just yet, more attention is being paid to the next man up.
That man is none other than Siemian. Siemian is on his fifth NFL team in six seasons, with previous stops with the Denver Broncos, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, and most recently with the Chicago Bears.
Siemian is in his first season with the Bengals and finds himself in an interesting spot. Nobody is going to sit here and say that if Burrow misses extended time that the Bengals would be in a comfortable position, but Siemian has an opportunity to extend his career, show his value, and maybe calm the nerves of anxious Bengals fans everywhere.
Trevor Siemian finds Andrei Iosivas. Nice play. #Bengals pic.twitter.com/uVlZWLZyrC
— James Rapien (@JamesRapien) August 6, 2023
Trevor Siemian Has Experience
While it hasn’t been pretty at times, Siemian is one of the more seasoned backup quarterbacks that the league has to offer. In his career, Siemian has appeared in 35 games, starting 30 of them with a record of 13-17 as a starter.
Siemian’s best season as a pro came back in 2016 as a member of the Broncos, where he played in and started 14 games that season, finishing with a record of 8-6.
He threw for 3,401 passing yards that year to go along with 18 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. Those numbers are nothing to write home about, but they demonstrate an ability to function within an offense, and with the talent around him in Cincinnati, one could argue it is the best collection of talent he has ever played with.
The hope for the Bengals is that they never need to call on Siemian, meaning Burrow is healthy and ready to go. However, if the day comes and they do call upon Siemian for some real action, his performance tonight and the rest of preseason will go a long way in building confidence for the veteran signal-caller.