Is the Drop-off From Joe Burrow to Jake Browning As Big As We Think?
Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow could very well be a Hall of Famer if he can stay healthy and win a couple of Super Bowls. That first “If” has been the big issue, though, as Burrow missed seven games in 2023 and has an extensive injury history. This makes backup Jake Browning a potentially pivotal figure in the Bengals organization, which might inspire nervousness. But with the way Browning performed last season, that drop-off from Burrow to him might not be as substantial as we thought.
To recap, Browning spent time on the Bengals practice squad before he made the gameday roster. At one point, it looked like his time in the league might be coming to an end before he got another shot to start. But the former Washington Huskies standout kept working on his craft and never gave up on his dream. It paid off in a big way last year as he got the nod to start the final seven games for Cincinnati when Burrow went down with a wrist injury.
The Bengals won four of Browning’s seven starts, and although he showed some inconsistency, he proved to be a valuable backup. Browning ended up with 15 total touchdowns (12 passing) and averaged 266.9 yards per game through the air. Burrow, of course, was dealing with injuries before his season-ender, but he showed inconsistencies as well. Burrow’s 10 starts saw him throw for 2,309 yards, 15 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
One of the biggest reasons Browning felt so comfortable taking over for Burrow was the time he had spent watching the former LSU National Champion. Browning knows he’s firmly in the backup role, but he believes there is more that he can offer now. The time he spent playing last year has helped Browning identify his strengths more as a player and gain a better understanding of the offense. With that valuable information, he has more ideas to bring to the table as a resource to Burrow.
“Obviously, (Burrow is) an unbelievable player, right? He’s one of the best in the NFL, and no one’s going to debate that,” Browning said. “But for me, I’ve got some strengths, too. I’m sure there are different things where he’s like, ‘Oh, OK, that’s how you did this.’
“And there’s those conversations that — I was always helpful before, but there’s a whole other level of, ‘Hey, I’ve been in this offense, and I’ve had to be the trigger guy.’ And so when he has some concern or something, I can relate and we can have that conversation.”
Injuries are never something a team wants to deal with, especially with your franchise quarterback, but Browning believes the adversity Burrow faced last year could propel them to winning a Super Bowl. “I think that’s been really good for me and him,” Browning said. “It’s just trying to get as much improvement in the offseason, get everybody where we want to be and all be on the same page and go make a run at it.”
Having a backup quarterback who can be an extension of the coaching staff is a great tool to improve the offense overall. Every time Burrow walks off the field after a drive, Browning has a better understanding of what he saw in the offense after starting last year. If Browning can help Burrow can make small in-game adjustments, that could be the difference between winning and losing. Turning one or two games that should have been losses into wins could be the difference between having home-field advantage and having to play on Wild Card Weekend.
Burrow is still recovering from his wrist injury, and the hope is that he’s ready for Week 1, but there are no guarantees. Last season, the panic in Cincinnati would be real, and there would be a ton of offseason talk about how the Bengals put themselves in a bad situation. Maybe there’s a little rumbling about what they’ll do, but their backup plan is already in place and Browning has proven to be solid.
Obviously, the best-case scenario for this team is for Burrow to start every game this season. But if he can’t, the team should be fine with Browning, at least for a while. After all, Browning took a 5-5 Bengals team and finished only one game behind the Pittsburgh Steelers for a playoff spot. The depth of weapons that Cincinnati has can help ensure that the offense is in good hands whether Burrow or Browning line up under center.
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