Bengals sign Mike White and Sean Clifford after Joe Burrow sidelined with toe injury

The Cincinnati Bengals aren’t wasting time after Joe Burrow’s devastating toe injury. With their franchise quarterback expected to miss at least three months, the team has quickly moved to shore up its quarterback depth, signing veteran Mike White and young signal-caller Sean Clifford off the Packers’ practice squad, per multiple reports.

Bengals add Mike White and Sean Clifford to stabilize QB depth

The Bengals’ decision to sign both White and Clifford shows just how urgent the situation is in Cincinnati. White, who has bounced around the league with the Jets and Dolphins, brings veteran experience and actual NFL starts under his belt. He’s proven capable of running an offense in tough spots, something the Bengals badly need behind their shaky starter.



Clifford, meanwhile, was a 2023 fifth-round pick by Green Bay and comes over from the Packers’ practice squad. He has only one career NFL completion, but at 25 years old, he’s considered a developmental option with a decent arm and poise. While neither quarterback is being added as an immediate starter, both could move up quickly depending on how the next few weeks unfold.

Joe Burrow’s injury leaves Cincinnati in survival mode

The root of all this chaos, of course, is Burrow’s injury. The star quarterback suffered turf toe in the Week 2 loss to the Jaguars. Medical evaluations revealed a severe case that will likely require surgery, sidelining him for at least three months. That timeline pushes any potential return into December at the earliest, and that’s assuming his recovery goes perfectly.



Losing Burrow is a nightmare scenario for a Bengals team that came into the season with Super Bowl ambitions. Without him, the offense loses its biggest weapon and locker-room leader. Now the Bengals must figure out a way to keep their playoff hopes alive until (or if) Burrow makes it back.

Jake Browning now in spotlight as starter

For now, the Bengals’ QB1 is Jake Browning, who will be asked to steady the offense in Burrow’s absence. Browning stepped in last year during Burrow’s calf injury and showed flashes of competence, but his inconsistency remains a concern. That’s why the Bengals felt the need to add White and Clifford as insurance.

Brett Rypien, already on the practice squad, also factors into the mix, but the depth chart is now a game of musical chairs. Cincinnati clearly wants as many options as possible in case Browning falters.

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