The Cincinnati Bengals have released QB Desmond Ridder.
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The Cincinnati Bengals have released QB Desmond Ridder.
Back in late July, Cincinnati Bengals fans were elated with the news that their favorite hometown team signed quarterback Desmond Ridder. The former Cincinnati Bearcat was expected to add a modicum of fragile stability to a quarterback group that would be screwed if something happened to Joe Burrow regardless of who was backing him up.
The honeymoon didn’t last and the Bengals have now released Ridder, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
“The #Bengals are releasing QB Desmond Ridder, per source,” Pelissero posted on X.
Rotowire provides a pretty good update:
“Ridder inked with Cincinnati in July and spent training camp and the preseason with the team, but he ultimately couldn’t push Jake Browning for the No. 2 quarterback gig behind Joe Burrow,” Rotowire writes. “After now having picked up the Bengals’ scheme, however, Ridder will be a strong candidate for a practice-squad spot if he goes unclaimed on waivers.”
Desmond Ridder and Payton Thorne leave third QB hole
Ridder had been battling Payton Thorne for the third-string job, but the Bengals decided that neither one was worth it and cut both this week. Considering that there is no way that they’ll pull a San Francisco 49ers and just have two active quarterbacks (yes, I know that rule changed after the NFC Championship Game), the Bengals will need to add a signal caller to the roster.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: If Burrow gets hurt for a significant period of time, you’re hoping for six wins, a relatively high 2026 draft pick and you’re waiving goodbye to Trey Hendrickson. There isn’t a player in the free-agent world that would alleviate that outcome.
Without knowing the Bengals’ interest level in him, one would think that Tyler Huntley would be an attractive option. He was just released by the Browns because they decided that six quarterbacks was just too many. He actually made a Pro Bowl once for the Baltimore Ravens which just further proved what an absolute joke the Pro Bowl is.
The only other name worth mentioning is Jake Fromm, who I just wanted to name because if the NFL thing doesn’t work out for him, he absolutely has to become a State Farm Insurance agent.
There is a list of some other free agent quarterbacks here, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
Desmond Ridder has been bounced around the NFL
It’s a shame that the hometown kid didn’t make the Bengals’ roster, but great stories don’t make NFL rosters. Clutch Points details his journey through the professional ranks.
Ridder was drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Falcons. Atlanta gave Ridder the starting job in 2023, but he failed to impress. Ridder logged 2,836 yards with 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 15 games played in 2023.
The Falcons traded Ridder to the Cardinals last offseason in exchange for Rondale Moore. Ridder ended up losing a training camp battle with Clayton Tune and was cut by the Cardinals before returning to their practice squad.
The Raiders eventually signed Ridder off the Cardinals’ practice squad after injuries to Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell. But he only played in two games and failed to impress Antonio Pierce’s coaching staff.
Ridder will probably catch on with another team either on their roster or the practice squad. Logic indicates the latter and it might even be the Bengals who bring him back since he’s already familiar with the system.