After their bye week, the Bengals will return to practice today with a fourth quarterback on the field.

        The Bengals signed former Ohio State star Joe Germaine to the practice squad Thursday afternoon, after the team's final workout before their three-day break.

        The transaction has added more confusion to an already uncertain position.

        Third-stringer Akili Smith said he asked his agent to call the Bengals to see how the move affects him. Backup Gus Frerotte, the team's opening-day starter, is confused, too.

        “I don't understand it, either,” Frerotte said over the weekend from his family's home in western Pennsylvania, where they spent the bye weekend. “There are things that need to be addressed other than the quarterback situation. To bring in another quarterback is baffling.”

        Baffling describes the quarterback situation since the start of training camp. Frerotte won the job despite getting the fewest snaps in preseason games.

        During the Game 3 loss at Atlanta, last year's starter, Jon Kitna, replaced Frerotte. Smith started the next game, then was returned to third string. Kitna has started the last two games.

        Together, Bengals quarterbacks have thrown just two touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. They've been sacked 20 times. The composite passer rating is 48.5, and that's a big reason the Bengals are 0-6 and the NFL's lowest-scoring team.

        Frerotte, who has one TD pass and five interceptions, says the experience has been frustrating, but he hasn't lost his onfidence.

        “I know myself. And I know I'm a good quarterback. I know I can play,” Frerotte said. “It seems like here, circumstances are a lot bigger than I am. It shows. It doesn't matter who we have in there.”

        Kitna is expected to start Sunday when the Tennessee Titans visit Paul Brown Stadium.

        “Hopefully, they can keep Jon in there,” Frerotte said. “It's hard on the team when you switch guys up. It has been difficult, and we try to stay as positive as we can.”

        E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

Bengals find life after football Bengals QB situation 'baffling'

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