The Cincinnati Bengals will be without their star quarterback, Joe Burrow, for the remainder of the 2023 season. Burrow tore a ligament in his right wrist during their 20-34 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night. Jake Browning finished the game under center and will likely start the remainder of the season.
The Cincinnati Bengals backup played college football at Washington
Browning committed to play college football at Washington as a four-star recruit for the 2015 season. Browning won the starting job in his freshman season, the second quarterback to start in any game with Washington as a true freshman. He started in 12 out of 13 games and missed the Stanford game with a shoulder injury. He went 233/369 for 2,955 passing yards, 63.1% completion percentage, 8.0 yards per attempt, 16 passing touchdowns, and ten interceptions with a 7-6 record.
Browning had a great sophomore season. He went 243/391 for 3,430 passing yards, 62.1% completion percentage, 8.8 yards per attempt, 43 passing touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He was named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, first-team All-Pac-12, and placed sixth in the 2016 Heisman Trophy voting.
Washington went 11-1 during the regular season. They won the Pac-12 Championship and qualified for the College Football Playoff. They lost to Alabama in the Peach Bowl 7-24. He underwent shoulder surgery on his throwing arm a few weeks after the Peach Bowl.
Browning recovered on time for his junior season. He went 230/336 for 2,719 passing yards, 68.5% completion percentage, 8.1 yards per attempt, 19 passing touchdowns, and five interceptions with a 10-3 record. He was named to the Academic All-Pac-12 second team and an honorable mention All-Pac-12.
Browning started in every game during his last season with Washington. He went 252/388 for 3,192 passing yards, 64.9% completion percentage, 8.2 yards per attempt, 16 passing touchdowns, and ten interceptions with a 10-4 record. Browning has the record at Washington for most passing yards and touchdowns and has the most wins in Pac-12 history.
Browning started his NFL career with Minnesota
Jake Browning went undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft because he didn’t have any traits that stood out and didn’t have the best arm.
Minnesota signed Browning as an undrafted free agent on April 29. They waived him on August 31, 2019. He later signed to their practice squad the next day.
Minnesota waived him during roster cuts on September 5, 2020, but signed him to the practice squad the next day.
They waived him on August 31, 2021.
The Cincinnati Bengals signed Browning to the practice squad on September 7.
They waived him on August 30, 2022, and signed to their practice squad the next day.
Browning got significant playing time during training camp
Joe Burrow suffered a calf sprain during the second day of training camp and missed the rest of training camp and preseason.
Jake Browning and Trevor Siemian split first-team reps under center in the absence of Burrow.
Burrow returned just in time for the regular season, and Browning won the backup quarterback job over Trevor Siemian.
What now?
Cincinnati has a difficult last seven games of the 2023 season. They play at home against Pittsburgh, on the road against Jacksonville, at home against Indianapolis, at home against Minnesota, on the road against Pittsburgh, on the road against Kansas City, and at home against Cleveland for the regular season finale.
Will Jake Browning be able to lead the Cincinnati Bengals to the playoffs? We shall see.
For More Great NFL Content
Follow me on Twitter/X @JacksonLoschko. If you have any questions, you can message me on Linkedin. To read more of our articles and be up to date on the latest in the NFL, click here.
To stay up to date with other content, follow Fantasy Sports Heroics on Twitter/X @FSHeroics and on YouTube @FantasySportsHeroics.
Leave a Comment
Share your thoughts and join the discussion