Jake Browning shows he should be the Bengals' backup QB in the preseason finale

HYATTSVILLE, Maryland –– The last time Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning was in the position he was in on Saturday, he played so poorly he thought he’d never get another shot to play in the NFL.

Browning’s last opportunity in a backup quarterback competition took place with the Minnesota Vikings in 2021. He worked in the background for three years on their practice squad to make it a position battle, and Browning looked so shaky he didn’t think he’d get a call from another NFL team after the Vikings cut him.

But Bengals head coach Zac Taylor liked what he saw on Browning’s college film, so Taylor offered him a chance to be on the Bengals’ practice squad. Two years later, Browning was perfect in the preseason finale in a 21-19 loss to the Washington Commanders at FedEx Field.

"(Veteran safety Mike Thomas) said it before the game, this (preseason) is your resume. You want to put out good tape for the other teams to see and really shown when it's time to roll and you're live, you can play well. I feel like I did. I feel good about it."

Browning likely locked down the Bengals’ backup quarterback job for 2023. He was 6-for-6 for 42 yards with a touchdown drive, and he was on his way to leading another before a facemask penalty by offensive lineman Trey Hill ruined Browning’s second and final drive.Browning has shown his flaws during training camp and in the preseason, but he clearly outperformed Trevor Siemian. While Siemian entered the year as the experienced veteran with a leg up in the competition, Browning was much more accurate, decisive, athletic and in command of the Bengals’ offense.

"Jake is one of those guys that needed NFL game experience," Taylor said. "That's what he has gotten over the last couple of years. Sometimes, you just need reps."

Browning still doesn’t have a strong arm, he can be too aggressive when he scrambles outside of the pocket and he doesn’t target the middle of the field as much as he should. But Browning has shown that he can execute the offense, and that should land him on an active NFL roster for the first time in his five-year professional career.

On the Bengals’ opening drive, Browning identified standout rookie wide receiver Andrei Iosivas in one-on-one coverage down the right sideline. He anticipated how Iosivas was going to cut back on a back shoulder throw and placed a ball perfectly to set up a 25-yard reception. Five plays later, Browning stood tall in the pocket, made smooth reads through his progressions and found Iosivas cutting across the back line of the end zone for a touchdown.

"Iosivas continued his terrific summer with another big day. The Bengals’ backup quarterbacks have shown confidence in him throughout training camp and the preseason, and Iosivas is a proven playmaker on back shoulder throws down the sideline. His technique has improved significantly, and Iosivas’ athleticism has been on display.

"Jake is always on point," Iosivas said. "He can extend plays. He makes the right reads. When he trusts you, he throws it in places where you can get it. He knows the game, and he trusts his receivers."

Browning’s best throw took place on a play that didn’t count. He showed great awareness under pressure on third down, saw tight end Tanner Hudson separating across the middle and threw a strike into tight coverage as Browning took a massive hit. Hill’s penalty called off the play, but Browning showed the confidence and aggressiveness that should clinch him the backup quarterback job.

Siemian again struggled with accuracy and decision making. He placed a few strong throws over the middle of the field, but other throws were well off-target. In the final minute of the first half, Siemian forced a throw to Iosivas in double coverage that was easily picked off at the goal line. Later in the game, Siemian lost control of the ball on his third down throw and spiked the ball into the dirt to end the drive.

The Bengals’ defense didn’t play any of its starters and also sat most of its best backups, except for defensive end Joseph Ossai. In a development that could have an impact on the Bengals’ 53-man roster, Ossai left the game with an ankle injury.

Even without Ossai, the Bengals’ defensive line was dominant. Defensive end Raymond Johnson III ended a drive with a tipped pass, defensive end Owen Carney ended a drive with a sack and defensive tackle Domenique Davis continued creating pressure up the middle.

The Bengals’ toughest decisions on the 53-man will take place on the defensive line, and it’s unclear if there’s room for any of those three players on the roster. Second-year defensive end Jeff Gunter is a promising athlete who played a role on the 2022 Bengals, and he’s also on the roster bubble.

The Commanders took advantage of the lack of experience in the Bengals’ backup secondary for each of their first two touchdowns. Early in the second quarter, the Bengals had a lapse in coverage that left wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley wide open, and rookie safety Jordan Battle missed a tackle on the 39-yard touchdown.In the third quarter, the Commanders took a 14-10 lead. Bengals defensive back Allan George lost Tinsley in coverage as he caught a 38-yard deep ball. Tinsely’s catch got Washington to the 1-yard line, and the Commanders scored one play later when Battle gave tight end Brycen Tremayne too much space in coverage. The Commanders tacked on one more scoring drive against practice squad hopefuls in the fourth quarter to give Washington a 21-13 lead.

Fourth string quarterback Reid Stinnett, signed during training camp to run the third-team offense after Joe Burrow got hurt, nearly led a game-tying drive in his first action of the preseason. He found training camp standout Shedrick Jackson open down the sideline against a blown coverage, but a game-tying two-point conversion throw to Hudson was knocked down.

Johnson gave the Bengals offense one more shot to win it. He set up a sack for defensive end Jeff Gunter with a disruptive pressure up the middle that got the Commanders off the field on third down. But Stinnett didn't get past midfield as the Commanders clinched the win with a stop.

The Bengals had a successful training camp and preseason in 2023. Burrow is expected to return soon from his calf injury, and the Bengals enter the regular season relatively healthy. They also have the deepest roster that they’ve had during Taylor’s tenure with the team, and the Bengals answered questions at key position battles like backup running back, backup receiver and backup cornerback.

"These preseason games are extremely valuable," Taylor said. "I know we didn't play our starters a lot, but it's really valuable for the depth on your roster to get the experience that maybe they won't when the season begins."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bengals QB Jake Browning shines in preseason finale