Atlanta Falcons quarterback AJ McCarron tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on Aug. 21, 2021 — a freakish, non-contact injury during a preseason game against the Miami Dolphins that might have meant the end of his NFL career.

But on Monday night, McCarron was on the sidelines at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati for the Bengals’ 19-16 victory over the Los Angeles Rams after the NFL team signed him for their practice squad last week, bringing McCarron back to the organization that drafted him in 2014.

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“Everybody’s journey’s different,” McCarron said. “Listen, I’ve just enjoyed being back in the game of football. Tearing my ACL, that was the first time I had ever been out from an injury my whole career since I started football at the age of 3.

“But it also brought a new passion and love for football for me, being out. And then spending time with my kids and figuring out what’s important to me and being a part of that, then like I said creating a new love for football and having my kids be able to watch me, so I think it put a new fire in me, something that I’m thankful for even though it was a setback.”

In that way, McCarron was a double-winner on Monday night – one victory in Cincinnati and one back home in Mobile.

“I think my boys Monday were more worried about dad not being there to coach them for flag football for the first time in two years,” McCarron said, “so they were worried about how the offense was going to go and were they going to win their game. The good thing is my oldest (Tripp) played well at quarterback and they had a big win, so that was awesome to hear when I come back to the locker room from a great win out there. I was excited, and they were excited.”

The oldest of McCarron’s three sons served as a motivating factor that pushed the former Alabama All-American to return to football after rehabilitation from his knee injury.

McCarron played this year for the XFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks. He completed 203-of-295 passes for 2,150 yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions in nine games in the spring league. McCarron led the league in touchdown passes, completion percentage and passing-efficiency rating.

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That opened the door for McCarron to return to Cincinnati, where he spent the first four seasons of his NFL career.

“I absolutely love this city,” McCarron said. “Loved playing here. It’s always been a great organization, so it feels awesome to be back in the city and see a lot of the same faces.”

Since McCarron’s last season with the Bengals in 2017, Cincinnati broke its 30-year drought without a playoff victory by reaching the Super Bowl for the 2021 season and returned to the AFC Championship Game last season.

“I think just experiencing the stadium the other night,” McCarron said about how Cincinnati had changed since he left, “seeing the passion that the city has evolved into. And for a while there with the struggles that we had at times it felt like it was more of a baseball city than football. That atmosphere reminded me of the playoff game against Pittsburgh, just running out and feeling the atmosphere, so that was special.”

McCarron nearly delivered a playoff victory to Cincinnati on Jan. 9, 2016. The quarterback rallied the Bengals from a 15-0 fourth-quarter deficit to a 16-15 lead with a 25-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver AJ Green with 1:50 to play, putting Cincinnati in front 16-15.

But Pittsburgh kicked the game-winning field goal with 14 seconds remaining. Running back Jeremy Hill lost a fumble while the Bengals were trying to run out the clock, then linebacker Vontaze Burfict got an unnecessary-roughness penalty and cornerback Pacman Jones picked up an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty after an incomplete pass to advance the Steelers 30 yards to the Cincinnati 17.

How might McCarron’s career have been different had the Bengals advanced in the NFL postseason that day?

“Listen, that’s football,” McCarron said. “You never know where your career would have gone if we win that game – first playoff win since ‘91 and all that. But I don’t live life off of what-ifs. I truly believe God’s got a plan for everything and everything happens for a reason, so I’ve been blessed. There’s a lot of people that can’t say they – nine years in the league now. I’ve been blessed to play this game for a long, long time. Just thankful to still be playing. …

“In this league, I’ve come to not expect anything. You just roll with it and whatever happens happens. But like I said, I’m blessed and thankful to be back as part of this organization. I’ve always held this organization up high. It’s always been a special place for not only me, but my family.”

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Cincinnati signed McCarron with starting quarterback Joe Burrow nursing a calf injury last week. At the same time, the Bengals lost quarterback Will Grier from their practice squad when the New England Patriots signed him.

But Burrow was able to go all the way in Monday night’s victory over the Rams.

“Like I told (Cincinnati coach) Zac (Taylor) and the rest of the coaches: I’m here to help,” McCarron said. “It told Joe the same thing. Here to help in whatever way possible. If that’s getting the defense ready, if that’s having an extra set of eyes on the sidelines, whatever it is. I’m here to support him and the rest of the guys. It’s awesome to be a part of this organization again.”

The Bengals’ fortunes turned when they selected Burrow with the No. 1 pick in 2020 NFL Draft. After a knee injury caused Burrow to miss the final six games of his rookie season, he led Cincinnati to three postseason victories before the Bengals fell to the Rams 23-20 in Super Bowl LVI on Feb. 13, 2022.

Last season, Cincinnati posted a 12-4 regular-season record and won two more playoff games before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs 23-20 in the AFC Championship Game.

“I told him when I first got here it’s been awesome to watch him progress over the years and watch him play,” McCarron said of Burrow. “He’s quiet, but us getting to know each other and joke with him and stuff, so he’s been awesome to work with. I wouldn’t expect anything else.”

The Bengals return to the field on Sunday when they visit the Tennessee Titans.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.