Bengals waive former St. Xavier standout quarterback Sean Clifford

With Joe Burrow expected to return at quarterback Thursday night, the Cincinnati Bengals are shuffling their QB room.On Monday, the Bengals announced they waived quarterback Sean Clifford, who joined the active roster at the end of October.The Bengals signed Clifford on Sept. 16 and he spent six games on Cincinnati’s practice squad before joining the roster.With Burrow expected to take the field as Cincinnati’s quarterback Thursday against the Baltimore Ravens, the Bengals made the decision to release Clifford, with more moves possible once the Bengals choose to activate Burrow from injured reserve.Clifford, a product of St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s appeared in just two NFL games, both coming in the 2023 season.With Burrow back in the fold, the Bengals will likely hand the backup role to Joe Flacco, who threw 13 touchdowns and four interceptions with Cincinnati in six games.If the Bengals keep three quarterbacks on the roster, Jake Browning would be the one to fill the third slot, though it remains to be seen if they will do so.Browning has been with the Bengals since 2021, starting seven games in 2023 and three this season, each time when Burrow was injured. He has thrown for six touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2025.

CINCINNATI —

With Joe Burrow expected to return at quarterback Thursday night, the Cincinnati Bengals are shuffling their QB room.

On Monday, the Bengals announced they waived quarterback Sean Clifford, who joined the active roster at the end of October.

The Bengals signed Clifford on Sept. 16 and he spent six games on Cincinnati’s practice squad before joining the roster.

With Burrow expected to take the field as Cincinnati’s quarterback Thursday against the Baltimore Ravens, the Bengals made the decision to release Clifford, with more moves possible once the Bengals choose to activate Burrow from injured reserve.

Clifford, a product of St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s appeared in just two NFL games, both coming in the 2023 season.

With Burrow back in the fold, the Bengals will likely hand the backup role to Joe Flacco, who threw 13 touchdowns and four interceptions with Cincinnati in six games.

If the Bengals keep three quarterbacks on the roster, Jake Browning would be the one to fill the third slot, though it remains to be seen if they will do so.

Browning has been with the Bengals since 2021, starting seven games in 2023 and three this season, each time when Burrow was injured. He has thrown for six touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2025.