The Bengals signed quarterback Sean Clifford off the practice squad to the active roster, the team announced on Friday.
The move provides the team with insurance, as starting quarterback Joe Flacco is battling an AC joint sprain. He practiced only one day this week and is questionable to play.
Clifford will serve as either the backup or the emergency third quarterback for this week’s game against the Bears.
He signed with the team’s practice squad on Sept. 16 after Joe Burrow’s injury.
Clifford last appeared in an NFL game in 2023 with the Packers, playing two games that season.
The Bengals also activated defensive end Cedric Johnson back to the active roster from injured reserve. Johnson was placed on IR with a calf injury before the start of the season.
He returned to practice Oct. 22.
Star defensive end Trey Hendrickson has a lingering hip injury that could keep him out this week.
The Bears will be without their starting running back on Sunday against the Bengals.
Chicago has ruled out running back D’Andre Swift with a groin injury. Swift has been playing through the injury but apparently hasn’t been getting better, so now the Bears are shutting him down for at least a week.
Swift is in his second season with the Bears and has played well for them, starting all 17 games last year and all seven games so far this year. This season he has 100 carries for 464 yards and four touchdowns, plus 18 catches for 192 yards and another touchdown.
The Bears’ injury report also listed wide receiver Luther Burden, running back Roschon Johnson and defensive lineman Dominique Robinson as out. Bears linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga is questionable with a knee injury.
Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco sounds pretty sure that he’ll be able to play against the Bears on Sunday, but the outlook isn’t nearly as bright for defensive end Trey Hendrickson.
Hendrickson played in last Sunday’s loss to the Jets after missing a game with a hip injury, but aggravated the injury during the game and missed practice all this week. Head coach Zac Taylor said on Friday that Hendrickson will be listed as doubtful to play because of the injury.
Taylor said that Flacco will be listed as questionable because of the shoulder injury he picked up late in the Jets loss. Taylor said Flacco looked good in practice, but he does not want to commit to having him in the lineup this far ahead of kickoff.
Linebacker Logan Wilson will also be listed as doubtful. He’s dealing with a calf injury.
Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco sounds like he’ll be ready to play on Sunday against the Bears.
Although Flacco was limited in practice on Wednesday because of an injured throwing shoulder, he practiced in full on Thursday and said on Friday that the shoulder is in good shape.
“I feel good,” Flacco said. “I’ve never really talked about injuries before, so I don’t know what to say, but I feel good.”
Asked about Thursday’s practice, Flacco indicated he was comfortable throwing the ball.
“It went well. I was happy with how it went,” Flacco said.
Flacco said an injured throwing shoulder is a new experience for him and it was important to test it out during the week.
“I’ve never really dealt with it before. I guess there’s a point where it’s not really up to you, it’s just how it’s reacting and how you feel,” Flacco said. “That’s why I wanted to test it out a little bit.”
After his shoulder passed the test, Flacco should play on Sunday.
Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco was back on the practice field Thursday.
Flacco was listed as a limited participant after missing Wednesday’s practice with a right shoulder injury. Head coach Zac Taylor said on Wednesday that Flacco is 50-50 to play against the Bears this weekend.
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson (hip) remained out of practice along with guard Dalton Risner (illness), linebacker Logan Wilson (calf), and cornerback Marco Wilson (hamstring).
Linebacker Oren Burks (groin) and defensive tackle B.J. Hill (rest) were added to the report as limited participants. Guard Dylan Fairchild (knee), defensive end Cedric Johnson (knee), and defensive end Cam Sample (knee) were full participants for the second straight day.
