The Cincinnati Bengals may have a bigger need at the quarterback position than any other team in the NFL, and speculation is growing that they could address it via trade.
Jake Browning threw three interceptions in the Bengals’ 37-24 Week 5 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Browning has been atrocious by most metrics since he took over for Joe Burrow, who injured his foot in Week 2.
Leading up to Sunday’s game, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said he had “unwavering” confidence in Browning as the team’s starting quarterback. Fans were not happy about that, and they are even less happy following Browning’s performance against Detroit.
On Monday, Taylor left the door open for a quarterback change ahead of the Bengals’ Week 6 game against the Green Bay Packers.
“We’ll see where it goes. I think, like all personnel decisions, we’ve got to evaluate it,” Taylor told reporters. “Jake’s been very accountable for how the game went for him. I’ve got to be accountable for how the game went for me as well. And so we’ll continue to progress here through the days.”
According to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic, the Bengals do not view any of the other quarterbacks on their roster as a viable replacement for Browning. That group includes primary backup Brett Rypien in addition to Sean Clifford and Mike White, who are both on the practice squad. Dehner wrote on Tuesday that Rypien, Clifford and White are “not in consideration to replace Browning” in Week 6.
If Taylor is not committed to Browning and the coach is also unwilling to start any of the other three QBs, that can only mean one thing — a trade is on the table.
There are veteran backups around the NFL that would undoubtedly help the Bengals more than Browning has. Some names that come to mind are Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and Kirk Cousins. The big question, of course, is what those players’ respective teams would want in return for them and whether Cincinnati would be willing to give up anything of value.
Though he caught a pair of touchdown passes in garbage time on Sunday, Ja’Marr Chase has been visibly frustrated at times with Browning under center. It is easy to see why. Browning is 0-3 as a starter since taking over. The Bengals are 2-3 and have a chance to make a playoff run in a shockingly weak AFC North division, but almost no one believes Browning can help them do that.
At the very least, the Bengals should explore a trade. With Burrow not expected back until December at the earliest, their season might depend on it.
