The Bengals are turning to a surprise journeyman quarterback to take over for Joe Burrow.
Fresh off the practice squad, Brandon Allen will start Sunday’s game against the Giants, NFL Network reported Wednesday. He gets the nod over Ryan Finley, who backed up Burrow all season and replaced him last Sunday against Washington when the prized rookie went down with a season-ending knee injury.
Allen, a 2016 sixth-round pick out of Arkansas, started three games last season for the Broncos. He completed 39 of 84 passes for 515 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. The 28-year-old previously spent two seasons in the Rams organization, where Bengals head coach Zac Taylor was the quarterbacks coach.
Finley, a 2019 fourth-round pick from North Carolina State, struggled while filling in for Burrow against the Washington Football Team. He completed just 3 of 10 passes for 30 yards and an interception. He also started three games last season, completing 41 of 87 passes for 474 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
The reigning No. 1 pick, Burrow was putting together a strong rookie campaign before tearing his ACL and MCL and also suffering other structural issues, according to reports. Knee injuries of that nature typically require a nine-to-12 month recovery, per ESPN.
