After Will Grier left the practice squad to sign with the Patriots’ 53-man roster on Thursday, Cincinnati worked out McCarron and Trace McSorely on Saturday in hopes of finding a long-term option as their third quarterback.

With Joe Burrow nursing a calf injury and Jake Browning the only healthy quarterback on the roster, Cincinnati needed a third quarterback. They signed Reid Sinnett, who could be active on Monday night, but McCarron figures to be more of a long-term solution.

This signing doesn’t mean Burrow won’t play on Monday night. The Bengals released defensive end Garrett Nelson to make room for McCarron on the practice squad.

The Bengals took McCarron in the fifth round (164th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft. He spent four seasons in Cincinnati. He’s also played for the Bills, Raiders, Texans and Falcons.

McCarron most recently played for the St. Louis Battlehawks in the XFL. He completed 203 of 295 attempts for 2,150 yards and 24 touchdowns against six interceptions in nine games.