Bengals' Brandon Allen: Likely filling in for Burrow
Allen is expected to serve as the Bengals' starting quarterback Sunday against the Browns after Joe Burrow (knee/finger) acknowledged that he plans on serving as the backup for the Week 18 contest, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Burrow (knee/finger) said he's healthy enough to play but nonetheless will be rested as the Bengals look to preserve his health ahead of the playoffs. Allen didn't show much in five starts last season in place of an injured Burrow, throwing for only 925 yards and five touchdowns. He would theoretically have a better group of pass catchers to work with this time around, if not for the possibility of the Bengals resting other key skill-position players besides Burrow. Of course, there's also some chance the Browns will be missing a number of key players, with quarterback Baker Mayfield (shoulder) having already been placed on injured reserve and a slew of others missing Wednesday's practice. Allen and Cleveland's Case Keenum are expected to be the starting signal-callers.
