3 Cincinnati Bengals who won’t be back next season and why

Bengals rumors: Sign a new backup QB

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is one of the best gunslingers in the game, but he’s also injury prone, given his season-ending injury in his rookie year. Because of this, the Bengals need to have a capable backup signal-caller. Brandon Allen can step in when required, but Cincinnati can do better.

If the Bengals learned anything from the NFC Championship, it’s that a stable veteran backup is essential to any team’s success. The 49ers, for one, went through four quarterbacks this year, ending with Josh Johnson, who also suffered a concussion.

Allen is a free agent, and it would be fair to let him walk. An ideal replacement would be Case Keenum, who has starting experience and spent last season with the Buffalo Bills, where he received rave reviews. In Cincinnati, he could serve as a mentor to Burrow — not that he really needs one at this point —  and a positive presence in the quarterback room.

If called upon, Keenum could keep the Bengals afloat while Burrow recovers. A quarterback injury is always a worst-case scenario for any NFL team. Cincinnati has lived that nightmare, and now they must prepare for it while their championship window is open.