Bengals Signing Former Cowboys QB Will Grier, per Report

Cincinnati reportedly is adding a veteran quarterback who had one of the best preseason performances of the year.

As Joe Burrow continues to work his way back from the strained right calf that has sidelined him for more than a month, the Bengals have bolstered their quarterback room days before the start of the regular season.

The team is set to sign Will Grier, a 28-year-old journeyman who was originally drafted by the Panthers in the third round back in 2019 out of West Virginia, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He will join Cincinnati’s practice squad.

Grier last appeared in an NFL regular-season game as a rookie in ’19. That year, he started two games for Carolina, completing 53.8% of his passes for 228 yards and four interceptions. He has not thrown a regular-season touchdown pass.

After two seasons with the Panthers, Grier signed with the Cowboys ahead of the 2021 season, where he backed up Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush. He had perhaps his best NFL outing this preseason with Dallas, throwing for 305 yards and two touchdowns and adding 53 rushing yards and two more scores in a 31–16 win over the Raiders on Saturday. Although the trade for Trey Lance ultimately ended Grier’s time in Dallas, that outing likely opened up more opportunities for him. Now, he lands in Cincinnati.

After roster cutdowns on Tuesday, the Bengals have two active quarterbacks—Burrow and Jake Browning. If Burrow winds up missing regular-season time with his injury, Grier could find himself on the active roster.