Allen will replace Brock Purdy (shoulder) as the starting quarterback Sunday at Green Bay, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan made the announcement Friday afternoon, revealing that the team was surprised by the degree of pain in Purdy's throwing shoulder when he attempted to practice Thursday. Purdy was listed as a limited participant for that session, which followed Wednesday's capped session and preceded Friday's absence. San Francisco GM John Lynch said Friday morning that MRIs on the shoulder didn't suggest a long-term injury, but it nonetheless seems possible at this point that Allen will make multiple starts. Beyond Sunday, the 49ers play at Buffalo in Week 13 (Dec. 1), at home against Chicago in Week 14 (Dec. 8) and at home against the Rams in Week 15 (Dec. 12, TNF). The game in Green Bay this Sunday will mark Allen's first NFL start since 2021 (with Cincinnati). He's gone 2-7 as a starter, with a career 56.7 completion percentage, 6.1 YPA, 10 TD passes and six INTs, adding 34 rush attempts for 63 yards and no TDs.
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49ers' Brandon Allen: Named Niners' QB2
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Coach Kyle Shanahan said Thursday that Allen will be San Francisco's backup quarterback behind Brock Purdy for Monday night's Week 1 game against the Jets, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Allen won the gig over fellow veteran Joshua Dobbs. Allen completed 19 of 30 passes for 194 scoreless yards and no interceptions during limited preseason work. The 32-year-old has made nine NFL starts since entering the league as a 2016 sixth-round pick.
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49ers' Brandon Allen: Emergency option again
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Allen (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's Super Bowl matchup against the Chiefs, but he will serve as the team's emergency quarterback, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Allen is familiar with the role, serving as the team's No. 3 option throughout most of the season. The 31-year-old will only be allowed to enter the game if Brock Purdy and Sam Darnold are forced out due to injury.
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49ers' Brandon Allen: Serves as No. 3 for SF
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Allen did not appear in a game for San Francisco while operating as the team's third quarterback in 2023.
Allen sat behind Brock Purdy and Sam Darnold on San Francisco's QB depth chart for the entirety of the campaign. Allen was brought in as a veteran option after appearing in 15 games as a reserve over his previous four seasons in the league. Allen will be an unrestricted free agent this upcoming offseason, but he could be a candidate to re-sign as the 49ers' backup if Sam Darnold decides to walk in free agency.
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49ers' Brandon Allen: Emergency QB vs. Green Bay
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Allen (coach's decision) is inactive for Saturday's NFC divisional-round game against the Packers, but he will serve as the 49ers' emergency quarterback, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
As the emergency quarterback, Allen will only see the field if both Brock Purdy and backup Sam Darnold are forced out of Saturday's game due to injuries.
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49ers' Brandon Allen: Operating as emergency quarterback
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Allen (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Bengals, but he will operate as the team's emergency quarterback, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Allen will be able to enter the game if both Brock Purdy and Sam Darnold are forced out with injuries. The quarterback has not appeared in a game yet this season.
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49ers' Brandon Allen: Emergency third QB in Week 5
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Allen (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game versus the Cowboys but available as the 49ers' emergency third quarterback, Josh Dubow of The Associated Press reports.
For the first time in five games this season, Allen is suiting up in the event he's needed, which can only happen if starter Brock Purdy and backup Sam Darnold are injured. Allen has 15 appearances across four seasons between the Broncos and Bengals.
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49ers' Brandon Allen: Remains inactive Sunday
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Allen (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's Week 2 game against the Rams.
The journeyman signal-caller will be relegated to the No. 3 quarterback role for the second time to open the season, as expected. Sam Darnold will continue to serve as Brock Purdy's primary backup against Los Angeles.
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49ers' Brandon Allen: Odd man out
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Allen (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday against the Steelers.
Allen was able to make the team as the No. 3 quarterback, but he'll be wearing street clothes in Pittsburgh, while San Francisco opts to dress just Brock Purdy and Sam Darnold.
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49ers' Brandon Allen: Debuts with 49ers
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Allen completed five of eight pass attempts for 36 yards and an interception in Sunday's preseason loss to Las Vegas.
Allen was the third quarterback to enter the exhibition for San Francisco behind starter Trey Lance and Sam Darnold. With Brock Purdy (elbow) expected to be ready for Week 1, Allen is likely the odd man out come roster cuts. The veteran backup will continue to display his skills for the 49ers or potentially other suitors this preseason.
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Bengals' Brandon Allen: Returns to practice
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Allen (concussion) returned to practice Monday after suffering a concussion in Friday's loss to the Cardinals, Richard Skinner of WKRC-TV reports.
Allen has cleared concussion protocol, putting him on track to start again when the Bengals visit the Giants on Sunday for their second preseason game. The veteran played just one series in Friday's first preseason action before being ruled out with a concussion. The expectation was that Allen would've played the entire first half in the contest. This very well could be the case Sunday, especially with starter Joe Burrow still recovering from an offseason appendix surgery.
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Bengals' Brandon Allen: Concussion confirmed
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Allen was ruled out after suffering a concussion during Friday's preseason opener against Arizona.
Allen was previously seen heading to Cincinnati's locker room after being evaluated for a concussion on the sidelines, and he'll likely have to miss extended time this preseason after this injury was later confirmed Friday night. As a result, Jake Browning stepped in as the Bengals' quarterback with starter Joe Burrow still recovering from an offseason appendix surgery. During Allen's presumptive absence, Browning will likely split snaps with undrafted signal-caller Drew Plitt this preseason.
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Bengals' Brandon Allen: Seeing additional QB reps
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Allen received extra snaps under center during Wednesday's training camp sessions while starting quarterback Joe Burrow was sidelined due to surgery, Jay Morrison of The Athletic reports.
Allen and third-stringer Jake Browning were the only two quarterbacks to see action during Cincinnati's practice Wednesday. The two should continue to log additional reps with Burrow's availability uncertain after undergoing emergency surgery to remove his appendix Tuesday. It's unknown if the starter's status for Week 1 is under duress given the uncommon nature of this procedure, but Allen should be the next in line under center in the meantime.
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Bengals' Brandon Allen: Scheduled for free agency
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Allen completed 17 of 34 pass attempts for 149 yards and two touchdowns across six appearances in 2021.
Allen also logged seven carries for minus-1 yards and committed one fumble. The bulk of his NFL action this season came Week 18 at Cleveland, a spot start in which Cincinnati lost 21-16 to close out the regular season. Now scheduled for free agency after the conclusion of the postseason, Allen may have to search for his next backup role elsewhere.
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Bengals' Brandon Allen: Added to COVID-19 list
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Cincinnati placed Allen on the reserve/COVID-19 list after he tested positive for the virus, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Allen will need to clear the NFL's COVID-19 protocols before seeing action again, and the Bengals will be left without their top backup behind starter Joe Burrow for the time being. Jake Browning will slot in as Cincinnati's No. 2 quarterback until Allen returns.
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Bengals' Brandon Allen: Gets garbage-time reps
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Allen played six snaps and completed one of two pass attempts for six yards Sunday in the Bengals' 41-16 loss to the Browns.
Though starter Joe Burrow has stayed healthy this season, Allen has still gotten the opportunity to play in three of the last four games, with all of his appearances coming in garbage-time scenarios. Unlike the prior two occasions, the Bengals were on the wrong side of the blowout this time around, and Allen was merely getting reps to spare Burrow further beatings after he took five sacks earlier in the contest.
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Bengals' Brandon Allen: Dreadful against Ravens
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Allen completed six of 21 passes for 48 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions in the Bengals' Week 17 loss to the Ravens.
After putting together some valiant efforts filling in for Joe Burrow (knee), Allen fell flat in the season finale. He concluded the 2020 season having made four appearances and posting five touchdowns, three interceptions and 925 passing yards. Allen was playing the campaign on a one-year deal and will enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent. Given the uncertain timeline for Burrow, the Bengals could opt to re-sign Allen to an affordable short-term deal.
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Bengals' Brandon Allen: Listed as active Sunday
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Allen (knee) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Texans, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site reports.
Though coach Zac Taylor hasn't named a starting QB for the contest, Hobson indicates that "indications throughout the week have been that Allen" will get the nod after missing the team's Week 15 win over the Steelers. Also, as Hobson points out, Allen "didn't appear on Friday's game status report and remained listed as the No. 1 quarterback in front of Ryan Finley." Either way, Allen's not a high-percentage lineup option for those in the fantasy playoffs, and it doesn't help that the Bengals will be without top pass catcher Tyler Boyd (concussion) in Week 16.
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Bengals' Brandon Allen: Misses another practice
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Allen (knee) didn't participate in Friday's practice, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
With his right knee injury sidelining him for the second practice in a row, Allen's chances of playing Monday against the Steelers aren't looking promising. The Bengals will see what Allen can do at practice Saturday before ruling on his status for the Week 15 matchup, but Ryan Finley will pick up his first start of the season in the event Allen is unable to go.
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Bengals' Brandon Allen: Dubbed day-to-day
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Coach Zac Taylor said Monday that Allen (knee) is "day-to-day," Tyler Dragon of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Taylor said that Allen suffered a right knee injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Cowboys, per Dragon. It sounds like Allen has a shot to recover in time for the Bengals' upcoming Monday night matchup against Pittsburgh, but if not Ryan Finley would stand to draw the start.
