After Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow went out with a season-ending wrist injury a few weeks ago, the team has a new starting quarterback in Jake Browning.
Who is Browning, and what are the terms of his contract with the Bengals?
Jake Browning’s Salary and Contract
The Bengals were having a promising season and looked to be a potential top contender in the AFC. But in Week 11, Burrow was knocked out of a divisional clash against the Ravens with a wrist injury, and he was ruled out of the game.
The official injury was identified as a torn wrist ligament, and what had been an optimistic outlook for the Bengals quickly darkened when it was announced Burrow was out for the season.
The team has now turned to Browning, who had never completed a regular-season pass in the NFL before replacing the highest-paid player in the league. Browning had previously unseated veteran Trevor Siemian for the No. 2 job in Cincinnati.
Browning signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2019. The Vikings signed him to their practice squad later that year and again in 2020. Yet, Minnesota cut him in 2021.
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He joined the Bengals in 2021 when he was signed to their practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract in February 2022, was waived in August 2022, signed to the practice squad the next day, and then signed a reserve/future contract in January 2023.
Browning signed a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Bengals in 2021, which included an average annual salary of $750,000. This year, Browning will earn a base salary of $750,000 with a cap hit of $750,000.
For comparison, Burrow signed a five-year, $275 million contract extension before the season that made him the highest-paid player — in terms of annual average value — in NFL history.
In the preseason, Browning completed 32 of 45 pass attempts for 277 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions through three games.
Before stepping in for the injured Burrow in Week 11, Browning played during the end of the Bengals’ Week 1 loss to the Cleveland Browns. He failed to complete his only pass attempt.
After relieving Burrow in Week 11 against the Ravens, Browning completed eight of his 14 pass attempts for 68 yards and a touchdown. The team ended up losing the divisional matchup, 34-20.
In a 16-10 loss against the Steelers in Week 12 — Browning’s first NFL start — he completed 19 of 26 pass attempts for 227 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.
Browning will once again be the starter as the Bengals take on the 8-3 Jaguars on Monday Night Football to wrap up Week 13.
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