Bengals Move On From Quarterback Tuesday, Begin Hunt for Replacement

The Cincinnati Bengals have missed the playoffs the past two seasons, but they’re looking to change course this year and play football beyond Week 18. Joe Burrow and company will open the season on the road against their AFC North rival, the Cleveland Browns, on Sunday, Sept. 7.

Before then, all NFL teams must trim their rosters from 90 players down to 53 by Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline. For the Bengals, that meant parting ways with third-string quarterback Desmond Ridder, whom they signed in July to a one-year, $1.1 million deal.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero was first to the news, reporting, "The Bengals are releasing QB Desmond Ridder, per source."

Ridder was entering his fourth season in the NFL after being drafted in the third round of the 2022 draft by the Atlanta Falcons. He spent his first two seasons with them before being traded to the Arizona Cardinals in March 2024.

The 6-foot-4 quarterback never played a down for Arizona and was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders in October 2024 off the Cardinals' practice squad. Ridder then appeared in six games for the Raiders last season, throwing for 458 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

What Does Ridder's Departure Mean for the Bengals' Quarterback Room?

The Bengals finished the preseason with four quarterbacks on the roster: Burrow, Jake Browning, Ridder and Payton Thorne. Burrow’s starting job was never in question, and Browning has held the backup role since 2023.