The Cincinnati Bengals have made a key quarterback decision before NFL free agency officially opens.
Jake Browning was a restricted free agent, giving the Bengals a chance to tender him a contract. They chose not to, though, making him an unrestricted free agent, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Monday morning.
Fowler does add: “Cincinnati is open to bringing him back.”
This move, though, definitely makes a reunion with Browning less likely.
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Browning was originally an undrafted player out of the University of Washington, but he grew into Joe Burrow’s backup for the Bengals.
In the last three seasons, he started 10 games. He went 4-3 in 2023 while starting but just 0-3 in his three starts in 2025.
All told, Browning has completed 68.5% of his passes in the NFL for 2,707 yards with 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
In 2025, the Bengals eventually brought in Joe Flacco to be Browning’s backup replacement.
This move also points to a potential interest in bringing Flacco back. Right now, the Bengals don’t have an obvious backup to Burrow, but Flacco is also a free agent, and he seems to have interest in returning to Cincinnati if there isn’t a starting job for him to compete for anywhere.
Given Burrow’s injury history, it’s important for the Bengals to have the right QB2. This situation makes it seem like they’ve decided Browning simply isn’t that guy for them anymore.
