Bengals 2026 Training Camp Preview: QB
Players:
9. Joe Burrow
16. Joe Flacco
11. Josh Johnson
4. Sean Clifford
As training camp approaches, we’ll be going through each position, taking a look at some of the battles that will be taking place during the summer. We’re starting off with the QB position, which for the Bengals, should be the most straightforward.
Time flies, as Joe Burrow is somehow entering his 7th season in the NFL. After a couple of seasons where defensive struggles stunted the team, the hope is that offseason improvements will actually give Burrow a fighting chance to lead this team back into contention. Despite the team struggles in recent seasons, he remains one of the top players in the NFL. The star QB is healthy entering camp, and will look to get off to a quick start.
The backup position also will be without any offseason drama, barring injury. 41 year old Joe Flacco is returning for that role after the Bengals traded for him part way through last season. Despite his 1-5 record as a starter in Cincinnati, the team’s defensive struggles negated some strong performances from Flacco, just as they did for Burrow on several occasions. After being acquired from the Browns, the veteran QB showed that he was able to lead the offence and push the ball down the field to his elite weapons. He was hoping for a starting job somewhere else, but when that never materialized, Flacco returned to Cincinnati on a 1 year deal. Despite his age, he remains one of the league’s best backups, and has shown that he can keep things going if called upon.
The 3rd string position is where we will see a battle during camp. And considering the strong likelihood that the Bengals will only keep 2 QB’s on the roster, this one seems to be for a spot on the practice squad. It will be Josh Johnson and Sean Clifford going head to head.
Johnson, a 40 year old veteran, is the true definition of a journeyman. He has played for 14 different NFL teams over the course of his career, including what is now his third stint with the Bengals. He also spent time in other leagues, including the XFL and UFL.
Johnson was brought in before the team was certain that they’d be able to re-sign Flacco. He was somewhat of an insurance policy to make sure they had a veteran in the room. Of course, with Flacco returning, it pushed Johnson down to compete for the 3rd spot.
The veteran QB probably enters with a leg up on Clifford. Afterall, he has a decent bit of starting experience, and went 1-1 as a starter this past season in Washington. While he isn’t the biggest pusher of the ball down the field, he is a decent game manager and can also make plays with his legs. He isn’t someone that would probably be able to keep the season afloat if he is needed over a longer stretch, but Johnson does give you a chance in a spot start.
Clifford is the younger option at 28, but he has only attempted 1 pass thus far in his career, which he completed for 37 yards. Originally a 5th round pick of the Packers in 2023, he spent last season on the Bengals practice squad, aside from a brief stint where he was promoted to the roster as injury insurance. His lack of experience compared to Johnson puts him as the underdog in this battle. However, he should get opportunities to change that. Out performing Johnson during camp/preseason should be enough to win the job. If the battle is closer, the decision may come down to how much upside they see in Clifford, versus the perceived reliability that Johnson would bring.
If both QB’s underperform, we could see the Bengals look to the waiver wire or free agent market following the preseason, as they have done in the past.
Featured Image Via: All-Pro Reels (CC)