CINCINNATI – The Bengals will play their third different quarterback of the season, with Ryan Finley getting the start against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football, coach Zac Taylor said Saturday.
Finley replaces Brandon Allen, who suffered a fracture in the week 14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Finley, a sophomore from North Carolina State, took first-team reps all week while Allen did not train.
“Just not ready to play,” Taylor said on a conference call about Allen. Finley spent most of the season as the team’s backup quarterback until starter Joe Burrow went down in week 11 with a knee injury that ended the season. Allen, who was the team’s quarterback, was moved from the exhibition squad to the 53-man roster, hitting Finley on the depth map.
Finley has come off the bench in four games this season. He has completed 10 of 19 passes for 75 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. The 25-year-old started three games in 2019 as a rookie, the last of which came in a 16-10 loss to the Steelers.
The Bengals (2-10-1) are in the middle of a five-game lost streak and haven’t beaten Pittsburgh since 2015. Cincinnati has scored three offensive touchdowns since week 12, the fewest in the NFL in that period.
Kevin Hogan, who was signed on to the exhibition squad on Nov. 28, will be the reserve quarterback for Monday’s game against Pittsburgh.