Bengals QB history

[KA14_HOF]

9 hours ago, Cricket said:

KA14, to reiterate comments made by others, your work here is absolutely phenomenal.  
 

Good luck to you on finding, and filling in your “needs”.  
 

🦗

 

 

Thank you very much.

 

I'm hopeful that there will be repositories of Bengals photos out there somewhere that I'll be able to scour. Year-by-year training camp galleries are extraordinarily helpful, but they get harder to find unpurged the further I go back. There were posts on here referencing training camp pics from years gone by, for instance, but those pics no longer show up.

 

Official NFL Game Summary sheets (aka Game Books) are great for identifying who played, who was active but did not play, and who was on the roster but was inactive, along with stats & play-by-play for each game. I believe that every NFL team maintains an archive of these for every game they've ever played, but the Bengals have not made theirs available online.

 

I've pretty much exhausted everything that online archives of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati Post, Dayton Daily News and The [Dayton] Journal Herald have to offer from 1968 on.

 

If anyone has any leads for photos, footage of games beyond what's available on YouTube, or Bengals-specific documents (e.g. Game Books, Media Guides, etc.), I don't mind looking for the needle in the haystack. I just need help finding the haystacks.

[KA14_HOF]

2022 - Pre-draft Local Prospects Day

 

#6 - Drew Plitt (Ball St.)

 ..... 

 

#7 - Nick Watson (Tiffin)

 ..... 

[KA14_HOF]

2022

RETURNING:

#9 - Joe Burrow (Ohio St./LSU) - had appendectomy on 7/27/22; returned to start all 16 games, going 12-4; went 414-of-606 for 4,475 yards, 35 TDs & 12 INTs. Named to Pro Bowl. Finished with 2nd-highest Completion Pct. (68.3% to Geno Smith's 69.8%) and 2nd-most TD passes, behind only Mahomes' 41.

 

#8 - Brandon Allen (Arkansas) - played in 1 game, Week 9 vs Panthers; went 3-of-3 for 22 yards; became free agent 3/14/23.

 

#6 - Jake Browning (Washington) - played in all 3 preseason games, going 42-of-64 for 452 yards, with 1 TD (QPR 91.4); waived 8/30/22 after preseason; signed to Practice Squad 8/31/22; elevated to roster 1/2/23 for final game of season, but did not play.

 

ARRIVING:

#7 - Drew Plitt (Ball St.) - attended 1-day rookie mini-camp 5/13/22, but was not signed; signed as free agent 7/27/22 after Burrow's appendicitis; played in first 2 preseason games, going 7-of-8 for 93 yards, with 1 TD (QPR 154.7); released 8/23/22 after 2nd preseason game.

 ..... 

 

NOTES:

* The Week 17 MNF game vs the Bills was abandoned in 1st quarter with the Bengals leading 7-3 and driving, when Bills' DB Damar Hamlin collapsed on field, going into cardiac arrest. A fast response by sideline medical personnel, performing CPR and administering a defibrillator on-field, saved Hamlin's life. The game was cancelled by the NFL, eventually leaving the Bills and Bengals with season-ending records of 13-3 and 12-4, respectively. In the playoffs, the Bengals had to face the Bills in Buffalo, but won anyway.

[KA14_HOF]

2023 - Pre-draft Local Prospects Day

 

#7 - Sean Clifford (Penn St.)

 ..... 

 

#14 - Tanner Morgan (Minnesota)

 ..... 

[KA14_HOF]

2023

RETURNING:

#9 - Joe Burrow (Ohio St./LSU) - suffered strained right calf 7/27/23; returned to start first 10 games, going 5-5; went 244-of-365 for 2,309 yards, 15 TDs & 6 INTs; suffered season-ending wrist injury 11/16/23 (Week 11) at Ravens. Burrow had aggravated his strained calf late in the Week 2 game vs the Ravens, but still managed to start Week 3 vs the Rams.

 

#6 - Jake Browning (Washington) - played in 9 games, starting the final 7 after Burrow's injury, going 4-3; went 171-of-243 for 1,936 yards, 12 TDs & 7 INTs.

 

ARRIVING:

#19 - Trevor Siemian (Northwestern) - signed as free agent 5/3/23; played in all 3 preseason games, going 36-of-65 for 316 yards, with 2 INTs (QPR 55.7); released 8/29/23 after preseason.

 ..... 

 

#14 - Jake Luton (Idaho/Oregon St.) - tried out at rookie mini-camp 5/12/23; not signed at end of camp 5/14/23.

 ..... 

 

#7 - Reid Sinnett (San Diego) - tried out along with Plitt on 7/29/23 (after Burrow's calf injury) and was signed on 7/30/23; played in final preseason game at Washington, going 6-of-11 for 77 yards, with 1 TD (QPR 107.0); released 8/29/23; re-signed to Practice Squad 9/22/23 after Grier signed away by Patriots; elevated to active roster 9/25/23 as 3rd-string QB vs Rams with Burrow questionable for Week 3; released 10/2/23 after Week 4 at Titans.

 .....  < preseason  < Week 3

 

#7 - Will Grier (Florida/West Virginia) - signed to Practice Squad 8/30/23 after being waived by Cowboys after preseason; signed away by Patriots 9/22/23.

 ..... 

 

#28 - Joe Mixon (Oklahoma) - though having been drafted in the 2nd Rd of the 2017 Draft as a RB, with questions lingering about Burrow's fitness, and the League's re-instituted Emergency QB rule still requiring a #3 QB to at least be on the 53-man game day roster, Mixon took reps with the QBs in practice for the first couple of weeks of the season. With no 3rd QB on the 53-man roster for either Week 1 or Week 2, if Burrow couldn't continue and Browning subsequently got injured, Mixon would have been the Emergency #3 QB.

 ..... 

 

#4 - A.J. McCarron (Alabama) - tried out along with McSorely on 9/23/23 and was immediately signed to the Practice Squad, joining Sinnett; elevated to roster 11/25/23 for Week 12 game vs Stealers following Burrow's season-ending injury; played in 2 games (Week 14 vs Colts & Week 18 vs Browns), going 4-of-5 for 19 yards; released 2/14/24.

 ..... 

 

#___ - Trace McSorely (Penn St.) - tried out along with McCarron, but not signed 9/23/23.

 ..... 

 

#7 - Drew Plitt (Ball St.) - tried out along with Sinnett, but not signed 7/29/23; re-signed to Practice Squad 11/20/23 after Burrow's season-ending injury; contract expired 1/15/24.

 ..... 

 

NOTES:

* In 2023, the NFL re-instituted the Emergency #3 QB provision whereby a 3rd QB could be used in the event of injury to the starter & back-up provided that the #3 QB was on the 53-man roster, even if he was one of the 5 inactive players on game day.

 

NEED:

* Jersey # worn by McSorely for his tryout.

* Photo of McSorely in his Bengals uniform.

 

[KA14_HOF]

2024 - Pre-draft Local Prospects Day

 

#8 - Emory Jones (Cincinnati)

 ..... 

 

[KA14_HOF]

2024

RETURNING:

#9 - Joe Burrow (Ohio St./LSU) - started all 17 games, going 17-0; went 371-of-415 for 6,083 yards, 59 TDs & 2 INTs (both were ricochets off the helmets of his offensive linemen). Led NFL in every statistical category known to man. Named league MVP. Named to Pro Bowl. Named Super Bowl LIX MVP.

 

#8 - Jake Browning (Washington) - played in all 17 games, as all 17 were blowouts by halftime; went 278-of-336 for 3,205 yards, 37 TDs & 4 INTs (also hit offensive linemen). Finished 2nd to Burrow in TD passes and in MVP voting. Also named to Pro Bowl. Traded to winless Vikings prior to 2025 Draft for every 1st-round pick Minnesota will ever have for the rest of time.

 

ARRIVING:

#4 / #11 - Logan Woodside (Toledo) - re-signed as free agent 4/23/24; was initially listed as having been assigned jersey #4, but by 5/7/24 had switched to #11; played in all 3 preseason games, going 41-of-58 for 379 yards, 2 TDs & 2 INTs (QPR 85.3); released 8/27/24; re-signed to Practice Squad 8/28/24.

 ..... 

 

#4 - Rocky Lombardi (Michigan St./N. Illinois) - signed as undrafted free agent 4/27/24; played in last 2 preseason games, going 4-of-8 for 33 yards (QPR 60.9); released 8/23/24 after final preseason game.

 ..... 

 

NOTES:

* The NFL modified the Emergency #3 QB provision. Beginning in 2024 the QB #3 may be 1 of the 2 game day Practice Squad elevations, and may be elevated an infinite number of times without having to clear waivers, unlike other players who can only be freely elevated 3 times.

 

* Despite sitting out every single practice throughout the season, Ja'Marr Chase played in every game and led the NFL in receptions (155), receiving yards (2,190), and TD receptions (32), all single-season NFL records. After winning SB LIX, Mike Brown was seen handing Chase what appeared to be a blank check.

 

NEED:

* Photo of Logan Woodside in his #4 jersey.

* Photo of Joe Burrow in his Bengals uniform holding up the Lombardi trophy after Cincinnati's 49-0 demolition of San Francisco in Super Bowl LIX.

[Cricket]

 

I had no idea.  
 

High School Harry might have had convulsions if he saw “Mixon” and “shotgun” in the same sentence.  🥷

 

 

[KA14_HOF]

Through the beginning of the 2024 regular season, there have been at least 173 different players who've competed at the QB position for the Bengals.

 

* 53 different guys have actually taken a snap at QB during a regular season game.

* 17 more made the roster, but never got into a game.

* 6 were the emergency #3 QB while playing other positions, but never actually took a snap. (Punter Dave Lewis & WR Peter Warrick, included in the 53 above, also served as the emergency #3)

* 11 others played on the Practice Squad, but never made the roster.

* at least 12 QBs came in during the season for a tryout to fill the role, but were not signed. (Matt Barkley also tried out and failed, but came back the following year to play in the preseason)

* 38 more competed for the QB job into the preseason games, but were released prior to the start of the regular season.

* 36 others came in for either rookie mini-camp or regular training camp, but were gone by the time the preseason games began.

 

And 7 more guys were either drafted or signed, but apparently never actually suited up for the Bengals.

 

 

[KA14_HOF]

As for the 53:

 

Eight Bengals QBs have a winning record as a starter (by win %):

1. Turk Schonert (5-2; .714)

2. A.J. McCarron (2-1; .667)

3. Jake Browning (4-3; .571)

4. Joe Burrow (29-22-1; .567)

5. Virgil Carter (12-10; .545)

6. Andy Dalton (70-61-2; .534)

7. Ken Anderson (91-81; .529)

8. Boomer Esiason (62-61: .504)

 

Our Top-10 Passing Yardage leaders:

1. Ken Anderson (32,838)

2. Andy Dalton (31,594)

3. Boomer Esiason (27,149)

4. Carson Palmer (22,694)

5. Jeff Blake (15,134)

6. Joe Burrow (14,083)

7. Jon Kitna (10,707)

8. David Klingler (3,880)

9. Virgil Carter (3,850)

10. Turk Schonert (2,756)

 

Our Top-10 by Passer Rating (min. 200 attempts):

1. Joe Burrow (98.6)

2. Jake Browning (98.4)

3. Neil O'Donnell (90.2)

4. Greg Cook (87.6)

5. Andy Dalton (87.5)

6. Carson Palmer (86.9)

7. Boomer Esiason (83.1)

8. Ken Anderson (81.9)

9. Sam Wyche (81.7)

10. Jeff Blake (79.3)

 

And only 4 QBs have both thrown and rushed for double-digit TDs:

1. Andy Dalton (204 / 22)

2. Ken Anderson (197 / 20)

3. Joe Burrow (97 / 10)

4. Jeff Blake (93 / 10)

[Le Tigre]

Will provoke a Tibor response, but:

 

Interesting of how many catagories Mr Dalton was higher up in. 
 

[KA14_HOF]

Seven QBs have started a post-season game for the Bengals:

 

Virgil Carter (0-1)

Ken Anderson (2-4)

Boomer Esiason (3-2)

Carson Palmer (0-2)

Andy Dalton (0-4)

A.J. McCarron (0-1)

Joe Burrow (5-2)

 

And only 3 have started a Super Bowl:

 

Ken Anderson (SB XVI - lost to 49ers, 26-21)

Boomer Esiason (SB XIII - lost to 49ers, 20-16)

Joe Burrow (SB LVI - lost to Rams, 23-20)

[KA14_HOF]

As far as I can tell, 10 of the 180 QBs have since passed away:

 

John Stofa (1968-69) - died at age 79

Sam Wyche (1968-70) - 74

Greg Cook (1969-74) - 65

Ken Riley (1969-83) - 65

Rick Norton (1970) - 69

James Larry Hamilton (1972) - 54

Edward "Ted" McNulty (1973) - 30

Tim Van Galder (1973) - 77

John Reaves (1975-78) - 67

Turk Schonert (1980-85; 87-90) - 62

 

I couldn't find any information for Gary Davis (1968) or Phil Redrow (1973).

[AmishBengalFan]

On 8/28/2024 at 3:14 AM, KA14_HOF said:

2011

RETURNING:

#9 - Carson Palmer (USC) - at a press conference in June 2011, after stating that he did not expect Palmer to play for Cincinnati in 2011, Bengals president Mike Brown said there were no plans to trade Palmer. After Palmer did not report to training camp, he was placed on the reserve/did not report list on 7/29/11. He was traded to the Raiders on 10/18/11 for a 2012 first-round draft pick and a 2013 second-round draft pick.

 

 

We also got an assistant coach as part of that deal....

[HavePityPlease]

3 hours ago, Le Tigre said:

Will provoke a Tibor response, but:

 

Interesting of how many catagories Mr Dalton was higher up in. 
 

 

Actually this photo appears to show that Mr. Dalton is a tennis fan - thus, @tibor75 has no choice but to embrace him with love, now and forever....

[tibor75]

Andy Dullton is best on primetime when he's sitting on his ass in the crowd watching others not choke instead of him. 

[UncleEarl]

9 hours ago, tibor75 said:

Andy Dullton is best on primetime when he's sitting on his ass in the crowd watching others not choke instead of him. 

Hi Tibs!

 

[AmishBengalFan]

[AmishBengalFan]

[|Dr Tarzan|]

This entire thread is superlative effort in research.   Kudos on an outstanding service and effort on our  behalf.

 

On a side note.  Once upon a time I did my own research on KA.   It always seemed to me that the only way the Steel Curtain could assure themselves of a victory over the Bengals was to knock him out of the game.  Sometimes legitimate hits but just as often cheap ass ones.

Of the games that Anderson started and FINISHED.....  7-7   over his career.   .500 against a dynastic team seems to be another feather in the cap for admission to HOF.

[KA14_HOF]

20 minutes ago, Dr Tarzan said:

This entire thread is superlative effort in research.   Kudos on an outstanding service and effort on our  behalf.

 

On a side note.  Once upon a time I did my own research on KA.   It always seemed to me that the only way the Steel Curtain could assure themselves of a victory over the Bengals was to knock him out of the game.  Sometimes legitimate hits but just as often cheap ass ones.

Of the games that Anderson started and FINISHED.....  7-7   over his career.   .500 against a dynastic team seems to be another feather in the cap for admission to HOF.

Couldn't agree more. The other project I worked on was documenting Ken Anderson's HOF credentials. I've got ~50 different points that underscore his HOF-worthiness. I'm gonna make a new thread for those. I'm sure there are aspects I've missed and will be eager to enhance the list.

[AmishBengalFan]

1 hour ago, Dr Tarzan said:

 

On a side note.  Once upon a time I did my own research on KA.   It always seemed to me that the only way the Steel Curtain could assure themselves of a victory over the Bengals was to knock him out of the game.  Sometimes legitimate hits but just as often cheap ass ones.