On Off The Bench and The Stone Shields Show today we discuss the Bengals potentially adding a veteran QB, Zac Taylor's comments at his press conference, Monday Night Football and more!

Off The Bench is back weekdays from 10a to 11a followed by The Stone Shields Show from 11a to noon!

The Cincinnati Bengals' 2-0 start hit a gut-wrenching snag when star quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a Grade 3 turf toe injury in their 31-27 thriller over the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 14. Burrow, who threw for 76 yards and a touchdown before exiting, underwent surgery and faces at least three months sidelined—potentially until mid-December. Backup Jake Browning stepped up admirably, completing 21 of 32 passes for 241 yards, two scores, and three picks, including a game-winning 1-yard sneak with 18 seconds left. With Burrow out, whispers of a veteran addition swirl. Analysts eye Atlanta's Kirk Cousins for his experience, though his $24.4 million salary looms large, or Tampa Bay's Jameis Winston for a low-cost cannon arm to sling to Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. A Jimmy Garoppolo trade from the Rams could add Super Bowl savvy cheaply, but Cincinnati's confidence in Browning—fresh off a 4-3 stint in 2023—might keep them steady for now. 

Shifting to college gridiron glory, No. 16 Texas A&M stunned No. 8 Notre Dame 41-40 in a Saturday night heart-stopper at Notre Dame Stadium on September 13. Sophomore QB Marcel Reed dazzled with 360 passing yards, two TDs, and a crucial 11-yard strike to Nate Boerkircher with 13 seconds left, capping a 74-yard drive. The Aggies (3-0) overcame a botched extra point on ND's late score, avenging last year's 23-13 loss with a prolific air attack—unlike their prior ground-and-pound struggle. Notre Dame (1-2) squandered a 40-34 lead, their playoff dreams dimming after a national title game run last season; defensive lapses and a blocked punt return TD haunted the Irish. A&M's road ranked win, first since 2014, signals SEC contender status under Mike Elko. 

Monday Night Football capped Week 2 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers edging the Houston Texans 20-19 on September 15, moving to 2-0 via late-game magic. Baker Mayfield outdueled C.J. Stroud, engineering a final drive for Rachaad White's 2-yard TD plunge with six ticks left. Tampa's 169 rushing yards overwhelmed Houston's 84, with Bucky Irving (71) and White (65) pounding the rock; Emeka Egbuka's screen TD gave the Bucs their first lead. The Texans (0-2) faltered on red-zone stalls and special teams woes, including a blocked punt; Nick Chubb's 25-yard score off a return couldn't salvage it. Houston's AFC South title repeat now teeters, while Mayfield's heroics echo his Week 1 rally.

Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/

Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/

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