The Cincinnati Bengals entered Week 6 searching for answers — and the Los Angeles Rams unexpectedly found themselves part of the conversation. With Joe Burrow sidelined by a Grade 3 turf toe injury suffered in Week 2 against Jacksonville, the Bengals’ offense collapsed behind backup Jake Browning. Their 48-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings wasn’t just another defeat — it was the worst in franchise history.
Head coach Zac Taylor made it clear his team needed a reset. “As a unit, we’ve got to be better in the run game,” Taylor said after the loss. “We’ve got to find more balance.” But behind the scenes, that balance meant something different: a new quarterback.
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Bengals Explored Trade Options, Including Rams Quarterbacks
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According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the Bengals’ front office, led by Duke Tobin, began compiling a list of potential quarterback upgrades following their Week 5 blowout loss to the Detroit Lions. Among the most intriguing names on that list were two Rams quarterbacks — Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett.
Breer reported that Cincinnati’s list included “guys who were good No. 2s behind strong No. 1s, No. 3s with some experience, or young guys with promise.” The Rams fit that profile perfectly. With Matthew Stafford healthy, Los Angeles had both Garoppolo — an experienced veteran on a one-year, $1.25 million deal — and Bennett, a developmental backup with preseason success.
Garoppolo’s connection to Rams head coach Sean McVay also made him an intriguing target for Taylor, who worked under McVay in 2017 and 2018. The Bengals’ coach has consistently prioritized “familiarity” when evaluating quarterbacks, having signed players like Mike White and Sean Clifford for similar reasons.
However, it’s unclear if the Bengals ever formally reached out to the Rams. Given Garoppolo’s experience and low-cost contract, Los Angeles likely valued him as essential insurance behind Stafford.
Burrow’s Return Still Far Away
Joe Burrow underwent successful surgery for his turf toe injury at Birmingham’s Andrews Sports Medicine, and according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, could return “in December if the Bengals’ record warrants it.”
In the meantime, the Rams avoided dealing either quarterback, and the Bengals settled on Joe Flacco. Still, the trade buzz showed how close the Rams came to being at the center of another major NFL quarterback shakeup.
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