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Bengals Reach Verbal Agreement With Ex-Steelers 10-Time Pro Bowl to Replace Injured Joe Burrow

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Cincinnati, OH – October 1, 2025

The Cincinnati Bengals have moved quickly to stabilize their season, reaching a verbal agreement with a veteran quarterback to join the team in the wake of Joe Burrow’s devastating injury.

Burrow is expected to miss roughly three months following surgery, leaving the Bengals desperate for a proven passer. With Jake Browning struggling to carry the offense, Cincinnati’s front office identified experience and leadership as the ideal stopgap to steady a shaken roster.

That agreement — not yet finalized but described by sources as “imminent” — is for a one-time Super Bowl champion and perennial Pro Bowler, a signal that the Bengals are not willing to let their season slip away. The move reflects urgency, ambition, and a clear belief that this veteran still has something left to give.

That quarterback is Russell Wilson, the ex-Steelers starter and 10-time Pro Bowler, who now finds himself set to wear black and orange. After a turbulent exit from Pittsburgh, Wilson gets a chance at redemption while stepping in as Burrow’s replacement. His career résumé includes over 43,000 passing yards, 334 touchdowns, and a Super Bowl victory — experience the Bengals hope can keep their playoff hopes alive.

Wilson has a history with Cincinnati. In 2024, he shredded the Bengals’ secondary for 414 yards and three touchdowns, a reminder of the kind of spark he can still deliver. Now, he’ll be asked to replicate that magic not as an opponent, but as their leader.

Critics caution the Bengals’ issues run deeper than quarterback play — the defense ranks near the bottom of the league, and the run game has been nearly nonexistent. Still, Wilson’s arrival offers hope, stability, and leadership for a roster in need of all three.

 

For the Bengals, it’s about survival in a brutal AFC North. For Wilson, it’s a shot at proving he still belongs among the league’s elite. For fans, it’s the storyline no one expected: Cincinnati turning to a former rival to save their season.

Stay tuned to ESPN.

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Chiefs Fan-Favourite WR Faces Family Tragedy After Week 5 Game as Military-Trained Skydiving Instructor Dies in Nashville
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice is mourning a devastating personal loss following the team’s Week 5 matchup, as his cousin Justin Fuller, a respected military-trained skydiving instructor, died in a tragic tandem jump accident near Nashville. Fuller, 35, was fatally injured after becoming separated from his parachute harness mid-air during a jump organized by Go Skydive Nashville. His student survived after landing in a tree with the parachute deployed and was later rescued by firefighters. Police confirmed Fuller’s body was recovered in a wooded area off Ashland City Highway. The Nashville Fire Department called it “one of the most complex high-angle rescues in recent years,” commending its personnel for the effort. Justin Fuller, known by the nickname "Spidey," died after a tandem skydiving jump went wrong on Oct. 4, 2025, near Nashville, Tennessee.  (Facebook/Justin Fuller Spidey ) Fuller, known affectionately as “Spidey,” had completed more than 5,000 jumps and trained U.S. military personnel in advanced aerial maneuvers. Friends described him as “fearless, focused, and committed to lifting others higher — both in life and in the air.” Rice, who grew up admiring his cousin’s discipline and sense of purpose, has long credited that example with shaping his mental toughness and leadership on the field. A relative told local media, “Justin taught Rashee that strength isn’t being unbreakable — it’s standing firm when life hits hardest. That’s exactly how Rashee lives and plays today.” As a featured target in the Chiefs’ offense, Rice has earned complete trust for his short-to-intermediate separation, yards-after-catch power (YAC), and chemistry with quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Coaches describe him as “calm, focused, and mature beyond his years,” a disciplined route-runner who finds tight windows in the red zone. Through Week 5 of the 2025 season, Rice has no registered game statistics as he serves a league-issued six-game suspension to start the regular season; major stat services list no 2025 game logs to date.  The Kansas City Chiefs have provided time and private support for Rice and his family, ensuring he can grieve without team-related obligations. Teammates have stood beside him, honoring both his resilience and his family’s tradition of service. The FAA is investigating the incident, while messages commemorating “Spidey” continue to spread nationwide.“He taught others to fly — now he flies higher than all of us,” one tribute read. Rice kept his public remarks brief before leaving in the embrace of teammates:“Spidey always told me not to fear the height — only the moment you forget to look down and pull someone else up with you. This week, I’m playing for him.”