Jake Browning’s second three-interception game in four weeks has got the Cincinnati Bengals searching for answers, which include potentially shelving the quarterback ahead of a showdown with the Green Bay Packers next Sunday.
Browning went 26-of-40 passing for 251 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions in a 13-point home loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 5. The three turnovers made eight interceptions for Browning since he took over for Joe Burrow partway through Cincinnati’s Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Burrow won’t be back anytime soon after undergoing surgery to repair his turf toe injury (he has a rumored December return date). But even despite limited options and Browning’s success filling in for Burrow across seven starts back in 2023, the Bengals opened the door Monday to making a switch under center this week.
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“[Bengals head coach] Zac Taylor asked if he sees Jake Browning as starting QB vs GB: ‘We’ll see where it goes. Like all personnel decisions, we have to evaluate it,'” Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reported via X. “Taylor again leaves door open to go a different direction at QB. Other QBs in the building: Brett Rypien, Mike White, Sean Clifford.”
Rypien is 2-2 as an NFL starter across 11 appearances, but he hasn’t thrown a pass since 2023 when he was with the Los Angeles Rams. He has amassed 950 yards, four touchdowns and nine interceptions over the course of his career.
White is 2-5 as a starter in the league across 15 appearances. He has 2,247 passing yards, nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions on his resumé. Meanwhile, Clifford has never started an NFL game and has attempted just three passes for -2 yards since becoming a pro.
Cincinnati is a prime candidate to trade for a starting-caliber quarterback ahead of the November 4 deadline, though doing so now probably wouldn’t allow that player enough time to be ready for Green Bay by Sunday. Among the possible options on the market are Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons and Russell Wilson of the New York Giants.
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