Bengals sign QB Sean Clifford to practice squad after Joe Burrow turf toe injury

Former Penn State QB Sean Clifford signed with the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad amid Joe Burrow’s injury, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Clifford previously played for the Green Bay Packers.

Not only that, Schefter reported Clifford wasn’t the only QB signed Tuesday. Veteran quarterback Mike White was also added to the practice squad.

Clifford was a fifth round pick out of Penn State by the Packers in 2023. He was on the team for the last two seasons and has appeared in two games in his NFL career. Clifford’s thrown one pass, a completion, for 37 yards.

While at Penn State, Clifford spent six seasons with the Nittany Lions. He finished his career with 10,661 yards, 86 touchdowns, 31 interceptions, a 61.4% completion percentage, 1,073 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns.

As a member of the Class of 2017, Clifford was a four-star recruit out of Cincinnati (Ohio) St. Xavier, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. He was the No. 4 overall prospect in the state, the No. 12 quarterback in the class and the No. 183 overall prospect in the class.

Sean Clifford, Mike White added to Bengals after Joe Burrow turf toe injury

Burrow could end up missing the rest of the season after surgery, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Hence why guys like Clifford and White were added to a QB room featuring new starter Jake Browning.

“Joe Burrow needs toe surgery,” Adam Schefter said. “He is out a minimum of toe surgery. It is official, he is going to have that toe surgery, and he is going to be lost. Now, the question will be whether he’ll be back this season, but there’s a real possibility that Joe Burrow has played his last down this season for the Bengals.”

The injury occurred around the midpoint of the second quarter. Burrow was sacked awkwardly by his foot on the play, with that being the second sack he’d taken after being harassed consistently through the first half of the game. He’d go into the injury tent before hitting the locker room before halftime and eventually getting the turf toe diagnosis.

“He’s obviously going to want to try and come back early and sooner,” Schefter said. “But that is going to be challenging to do. He needs the surgery. It is official. He’s going to be out. The Bengals’ season has been remade and he’s going to be lost for an indefinite period here.”