Browning signed a two-year contract with the Bengals on Tuesday. Undrafted back in 2019, the QB spent two years on Minnesota's practice squad and then two seasons on Cincinnati's. Browning finally got his shot in 2023, winning the No. 2 QB job for the Bengals and eventually replacing an injured Joe Burrow (wrist) for the final seven and a half games of the season. Browning played surprisingly well down the stretch, with 15 total TDs (three rushing) and seven turnovers (all INTs) while leading all qualified passers in completion percentage (70.4) and ranking fifth in yards per attempt (8.0). The 28-year-old's status as an exclusive-rights free agent this offseason essentially locked him into staying with the Bengals, and the two-year deal now sets him up to be a restricted free agent after 2025. His solid performance in 2023 --combined with 2-3 more years of team contract control -- could make Browning a trade target for QB-needy teams, though there haven't been rumblings of interest this spring.
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Browning signed a two-year contract with the Bengals on Tuesday. Undrafted back in 2019, the QB spent two years on Minnesota's practice squad and then two seasons on Cincinnati's. Browning finally got his shot in 2023, winning the No. 2 QB job for the Bengals and eventually replacing an injured Joe Burrow (wrist) for the final seven and a half games of the season. Browning played surprisingly well down the stretch, with 15 total TDs (three rushing) and seven turnovers (all INTs) while leading all qualified passers in completion percentage (70.4) and ranking fifth in yards per attempt (8.0). The 28-year-old's status as an exclusive-rights free agent this offseason essentially locked him into staying with the Bengals, and the two-year deal now sets him up to be a restricted free agent after 2025. His solid performance in 2023 --combined with 2-3 more years of team contract control -- could make Browning a trade target for QB-needy teams, though there haven't been rumblings of interest this spring.
The Bengals tendered exclusive rights free agent Browning on Wednesday. Undrafted out of Washington in 2019, Browning made the first nine appearances of his NFL career last season, starting seven games following Joe Burrow's season-ending injury. Browning had the Bengals in playoff contention right up until the end of the season, finishing the year with a league-best 70.4 percent completion rate for 1,936 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions, adding 27-127-3 as a rusher. He's the favorite to open 2024 as Burrow's top backup.
Burrow went for an MRI on Friday after leaving Thursday's 34-20 loss to the Ravens in the first half. The MRI revealed a torn ligament in the star quarterback's right wrist. Browning came into Thursday's game with just one career pass attempt in the NFL, and he went on to complete eight of 14 passes for 68 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions while rushing four times for 40 yards after replacing the injured Burrow. The 27-year-old Browning is expected to make his first NFL start Week 12 against the Steelers.