Who is Joe Burrow’s substitute? This is Jake Browning the Cincinnati Bengals backup QB

Though the Bengals still have much work to do if they are to secure a trip to the postseason, both the team and its fans will likely be encouraged after their backup quarterback’s performance against the Jaguars. It will be interesting to see what comes next.

Let’s get to know Jake Browning

If you caught the Bengals game against the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday, then there is no way that you didn’t take notice of the man who was under center for the Bengals after Joe Burrow’s injury. Having lost starting quarterback Joe Burrow to a turf toe injury, stand-in signal caller Jake Browning led Cincinnati to 31 - 27 victory.

Joe Burrow left the game against the Jaguars in the first half with a toe injury, which will keep him on the sideline for several weeks or even longer. Jake Browning stepped in and got the job done for the Bengals and finished off the game with a 1-yeard QB sneak to get the win for Cincinnati.

The backup QB finished the game with 241 passing yards with 21 completions in 32 attempts, 2 TDs and 3 interceptions.

The Bengals face the Vikings on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Minnesota as Browning will face Carson Wentz, another backup QB due to JJ McCarthy’s injury.

Jake Browning wasn’t the only getting attention on Sunday. His fiancée also found her way into the spotlight thanks to the outfit she wore on gameday.

A star student & prolific player

Before making football his focus, Browning maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA at Folsom High School, the same place where he broke state and national records for career touchdown passes (229) on the way to becoming a four-star recruit. He would eventually land at the University of Washington, where he studied at the Foster School of Business while making waves with the Huskies. Indeed, it was at Washington that Browning truly started to make history as he became the first freshman to start a season opener at QB for the team. Just one year later, he would be the architect of UW’s first conference title in 16 years on the back of 43 touchdowns in 14 games. Ultimately, Browning would leave college as the school’s all-time passing leader.

From unfair judgment to rising star

You’re probably wondering how is that a player with those kinds of numbers wasn’t selected high up in the NFL Draft. Truth be told, that’s where things get interesting. Deemed too small and not athletic enough, Browning actually went undrafted in 2019, the same year in which Kyler Murray, Daniel Jones, and Dwayne Haskins entered the NFL after being selected in the first round. What came next was a two-season stint with the Minnesota Vikings where he was in and out of the team’s practice squad with Kirk Cousins the starting QB. He would then be released by the Vikings in 2021 after which he proceeded to join the Bengals and it was there, after two seasons on the scout team, that Browning finally showed his true colors. Indeed, it was in 2023 that he secured the No. 2 spot behind Burrow after beating out veteran QB and former Broncos starter Trevor Siemian for the job.