Sean Clifford: Everything you need to know

The Bengals signed Clifford to a reserve/future contract Monday. Clifford spent most of the 2025 season on the Bengals' practice squad after failing to make the Packers' 53-man roster at the end of training camp. He did not appear in a regular-season game for Cincinnati but was briefly on the active roster to serve as the team's emergency quarterback for Weeks 9 and 11. The 2023 fifth-rounder has not appeared in a regular-season game in each of the last two years, but he'll remain with the Bengals organization and participate in offseason activities with an eye toward making the active roster for 2026.

The Bengals signed Clifford to the practice squad Tuesday, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports. Clifford was waived by the Bengals on Monday in anticipation that Joe Burrow (toe) would be activated from injured reserve ahead of Thursday's game against the Ravens. Clifford has opted to stick around in Cincinnati on the practice squad, and he would be a candidate to be elevated to the active roster if Burrow, Joe Flacco (shoulder/finger) or Jake Browning were to miss time.

Cincinnati waived Clifford on Monday. Clifford had regularly served as the Bengals' emergency third-string QB since signing to the team's active roster Oct. 31, so this transaction is another likely sign that Joe Burrow (toe) will return from IR in time to start Thursday night against the Ravens. If he clears waivers, Clifford will be a candidate to resurface on Cincinnati's practice squad.