Bengals Will Start Brandon Allen This Week Over Ryan Finley

According to Mike Garafolo, the Bengals plan to start QB Brandon Allen, recently promoted from the practice squad, over Ryan Finley this week against the Giants. 

Finley was just 3-10 for 30 yards and an interception in relief of Joe Burrow last week, so the coaching staff clearly believes Allen gives them a better chance to win. 

Allen, 28, is a former sixth-round pick out of Arkansas by the Jaguars back in 2016. He was entering the final year of a four-year, $2.4 million rookie contract when the Jaguars somewhat surprising waived him coming out of the preseason. 

The Rams claimed Allen off of waivers and he bounced on and off their practice squad for a few years. The Rams waived Allen coming out of the preseason last year and he was later claimed by the Broncos. 

Denver declined to tender Allen as a restricted free agent this offseason and he signed a one-year deal with the Bengals in August. Cincinnati waived him coming out of camp but re-signed him to the practice squad.

In 2019, Allen appeared in three games for the Broncos and completed 46.4 percent of his passes for 515 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also rushed for 39 yards.

Finley, 25, was selected by the Bengals in the fourth round out of N.C. State in 2019. He’s in the second year of a four-year, $3,306,649 contract that includes a $786,649 signing bonus.

For his career, Finley has appeared in five games, making three starts, and has completed 44-97 pass attempts (45.4 percent) for 504 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s also rushed 11 times for 96 yards.