Cincinnati lost star quarterback Joe Burrow for at least three months when he suffered a toe injury in Week 2, a crushing loss that could send any team into a tailspin.
The Bengals, however, made no calls on veteran trade candidates this past week. They simply handed the ball to Jake Browning and moved forward.
"Jake is an example of someone who's truly prepared for a moment," head coach Zac Taylor said in the lead up to his team's Week 3 game against the Minnesota Vikings. "So that's where his confidence stems from. And now you just go play football."
If history is any indicator, Cincy will be just fine with Browning under center.
Browning went 4-3 as a starter in 2023 when Burrow missed the remainder of the season following a November wrist injury. Burrow had surgery on Friday on his Grade 3 turf toe and is out a minimum of 12 weeks, sources say.
Burrow is unable to travel for at least the first two weeks of his rehab, but he is expected to be around the team and involved. Burrow could potentially return in December if the Bengals' record warrants it, and if his rehab goes perfectly.
As for Browning, he's playing for more than just his team and a coveted spot in the AFC playoffs. He finds himself in a unique contractual situation.
At 29 years old, despite signing as an undrafted free agent following the 2019 draft, he's only now nearly eligible to be a restricted free agent. Browning will be an RFA after this season, and he'll have his first opportunity to sign a lucrative contract, giving Cincy an interesting decision. The options will be to give him an original-round tender (worth about $3.4 million this year), a second-round tender ($5.33 million) or a first-round tender (worth $7.5 million). If another team signs him away, the Bengals would receive a draft pick at the level of the compensation.
It's possible, if Browning establishes himself as a potential starter for someone in 2026, he would command the first-round tender.
The Bengals could also sign him to an extension, as the Bears did when they inked backup Tyson Bagent to a two-year, $10 million deal in August.
Browning has had to wait for this opportunity because he played on practice squads from 2019 to 2021. With only limited practice squad elevations, Browning accumulated no accrued seasons until 2023.
He's now accrued two seasons as Cincy's backup. This year makes three.
It's a rarity for a player his age, but Browning has worked his way into an opportunity to cash in.
A few years ago, Browning told Adam Dedeaux, his throwing guru from 3DQB, that he wanted to emulate Burrow's on-field demeanor. Sunday begins another opportunity to prove it.
There are four other backup QBs who will be starting in the NFL on Sunday. Here's a look at what's at stake in each situation:
- Marcus Mariota will start for the Washington Commanders against the Las Vegas Raiders, likely getting one opportunity before Jayden Daniels returns to the lineup next week from a knee sprain. Mariota is among the highest-paid backups in the league, making $8 million on his one-year deal. Mariota also has $200,000 available in incentives (per game) when he plays more than 60% of snaps and the team wins.
- Carson Wentz will start for the Minnesota Vikings against Browning's Bengals, likely his first of at least two starts with J.J. McCarthy out due to a high ankle sprain. While Wentz signed a low deal in August -- $1.255 million with a $167,500 signing bonus -- he waited and waited in the spring and summer for a spot in Minnesota to be open. When the Vikings traded Sam Howell to the Eagles, Wentz had his opportunity. Somewhat similar to Sam Darnold last year, Wentz has a potential platform to play himself into a bigger contract next season.
- Mac Jones is expected to start again for the San Francisco 49ers against the Arizona Cardinals, his second start in place of Brock Purdy, who is in play to return to the lineup next week after dealing with turf toe. In Jones' contract, $100,000 per game is available, provided he plays 25% of snaps and the team wins. Jones, however, needs a minimum of four starts to qualify. Another quality start for Jones could also put him in the conversation to be a starter next season -- if the 49ers (who have him under contract through 2026) trade him to an interested team.
- Tyrod Taylor will start for the New York Jets against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Justin Fields in the NFL's concussion protocol. Taylor is one of the league's highly paid backups for a reason and is earning $6 million this year. Taylor also has $3 million in total incentives available, which are based on playing 40% of the snaps in a season.
