Bengals’ Jake Browning is NFL’s best backup QB in new rankings

[Arkansas Bengal]

Chris Roling

Thu, May 30, 2024, 7:45 PM CDT·1 min read

 

 

In a move that should surprise nobody who pays attention to the NFL, the Cincinnati Bengals have the best backup quarterback in the league, courtesy of Jake Browning.

 

So says new backup rankings from Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano, where Jake Browning tops the list after his stellar showing last year:

 

Many assumed Cincinnati would falter from the playoff race after Joe Burrow sustained a season-ending wrist injury with seven games left on the schedule. But the Bengals remained in playoff contention through Week 18 because of Browning’s sensational performances, including a three-game winning streak. He didn’t just keep the team afloat, he elevated the offense by averaging 276.5 passing yards and completing 70.37% of his passes in his seven starts. He outdueled Trevor Lawrence on Monday Night Football with 354 passing yards and one touchdown.

 

Browning tops the list over notables such as Gardner Minshew, Joe Flacco and even former Bengals passer Andy Dalton.

 

The Bengals rewarded Browning’s breakout performance last year in place of the injured Joe Burrow by giving him a two-year deal in April rather than a one-year league minimum due to his status as an exclusive rights free agent.

 

https://sports.yahoo.com/bengals-jake-browning-nfl-best-004555513.html

[sparky151]

It was a small sample size but Browning looked at home. He had both a high completion % and a high average yards gained per attempt. He threw for a good TD% too with his INT% a bit high but that's to be expected from a first time starter. 

 

I thought other teams looking for a QB would make trade offers to the Bengals for him. 

[texbengal]

19 minutes ago, sparky151 said:

 

I thought other teams looking for a QB would make trade offers to the Bengals for him. 

 

They still might. When TC/PS comes, some QBs might get hurt and some desperate team(s) will come looking. 

[|BlackJesus|]

I think that this season the Bengals should consider a situation where every time the team goes up by 17 or more points, Browning comes in to "close out" the game. Kind of like how baseball teams utilize pitchers. 

 

There is no need for Burrow to be in regular-season games that are well in hand and risk injury. If the other team starts to make a comeback, you can always put Burrow back in if need be. But this way, it would keep Joe fresher and give Browning meaningful reps so he's ready if need be later on. 

[Jamie_B]

3 hours ago, texbengal said:

 

They still might. When TC/PS comes, some QBs might get hurt and some desperate team(s) will come looking. 

 

If they are willing to take on his new contract, as we upped his money remember.

[sparky151]

Jake Browning's contract is no obstacle at all. He makes less than Joe Bachie or Trayveon Williams. 

[-GoBengals-]

On 5/31/2024 at 9:20 AM, sparky151 said:

It was a small sample size but Browning looked at home. He had both a high completion % and a high average yards gained per attempt. He threw for a good TD% too with his INT% a bit high but that's to be expected from a first time starter. 

 

I thought other teams looking for a QB would make trade offers to the Bengals for him. 

 

7 game starts in the nfl isnt too small of a sample size, well for a backup, thats a good bit of film to have out there for a QB especially, 

 

On 5/31/2024 at 9:41 AM, texbengal said:

 

They still might. When TC/PS comes, some QBs might get hurt and some desperate team(s) will come looking. 

 

even if its a year from now, teams will remember him fondly playing pretty well for a tretch. and if the bengals go deep in the palyoffs that will help his case.

 

On 5/31/2024 at 12:36 PM, BlackJesus said:

I think that this season the Bengals should consider a situation where every time the team goes up by 17 or more points, Browning comes in to "close out" the game. Kind of like how baseball teams utilize pitchers. 

 

There is no need for Burrow to be in regular-season games that are well in hand and risk injury. If the other team starts to make a comeback, you can always put Burrow back in if need be. But this way, it would keep Joe fresher and give Browning meaningful reps so he's ready if need be later on. 

 

i agree, mostly, but pitchers do that becuase their arms will fall off if they pitch too much, so big winning or not, they come out. for the bengals, guys need stats to get paid, not burrow, but you think chase or tee wants to come out of a landslide in a contract year? absofuckinglootly not. but i agree for burrows health.

 

On 5/31/2024 at 1:36 PM, Jamie_B said:

 

If they are willing to take on his new contract, as we upped his money remember.

 

lol he makes 1 mil a year... 

 

On 5/31/2024 at 6:19 PM, sparky151 said:

Jake Browning's contract is no obstacle at all. He makes less than Joe Bachie or Trayveon Williams. 

 

yea its nothing.