Cincinnati Bengals Sign Quarterback Tyler Wilson

Jul 26, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt (right in white shirt) and offensive coordinator Jason Michael (left in gray jacket) talk with quarterbacks Zach Mettenberger (7) , Tyler Wilson (8) , Charlie Whitehurst (12) and Jake Locker (10) during training camp at Saint Thomas Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Two days ago, the Cincinnati Bengals handed Jason Campbell the keys to the team after starter Andy Dalton made a quick exit against the Kansas City Chiefs, and the backup quarterback promptly drove the bus off a proverbial cliff.   Now, Campbell’s spot on the Riverfront may be in jeopardy, as Ravens Insiders’s Aaron Wilson reports that the Bengals have signed Tyler Wilson:

Tyler Wilson was drafted in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders, who then waived him during training camp last year.  The Tennessee Titans signed him to their active roster last week, but subsequent bolstering of their QB corps made Wilson expendable, and he was released on Wednesday.

That was good timing for Wilson, as it turns out, since AJ McCarron remains in a state of perpetual rehab and Campbell melted down against the Chiefs, making the Bengals especially vulnerable to any missed time by Dalton.

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Wilson is an interesting case, a strong talent who was a potential first-round pick out of Arkansas before coach Bobby Petrino was fired in 2012.  From that point, Wilson’s stock dropped with that of the Razorbacks, and he has struggled to gain a footing in the NFL.

At the very least, he might be able to put some pressure on Campbell and might even have a shot at nabbing the backup slot, at least until McCarron is finally ready to show what he can do.

Of course, the best-case scenario is that nine-figure man Dalton stays upright and leads the Bengals to the playoffs again, but quarterbacks have a way of getting injured, and QB success can be fleeting.

At this point in the preseason, more arms in the backfield are better than less.