Bengals Reportedly Eye Free-Agent QB After Joe Burrow's Injury to Join Jake Browning

The Cincinnati Bengals are beginning to canvass the quarterback market in the wake of Joe Burrow's toe injury Sunday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Schefter reported the Bengals "have been calling around to other free-agent quarterbacks" with the knowledge they need to add at least one more to the roster.

That's because the NFL insider reported Burrow needs surgery that will sideline him for at least three months.

Under the circumstances, Jake Browning isn't a bad alternative.

Burrow missed the final seven games of the 2023 season after tearing a ligament in his right wrist. Browning filled in and threw for 1,868 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions during that span.

In Sunday's 31-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, the 29-year-old went 21-of-32 for 241 yards and two touchdowns but did throw three interceptions.

▶️ Full Jaguars-Bengals Recap

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As Schefter made clear, though, the Bengals have to add to their QB depth even if they have full confidence in Browning. He's the only other QB on the active roster, while Brett Rypien is on the practice squad. Rypien has 950 passing yards, four touchdowns and nine interceptions in 10 career appearances.

Granted, free agency is pretty barren once the season kicks off, and the list of QBs signed to other practice squads isn't much better.

There are reasonable questions fans can ask of the Bengals front office. They haven't done a great job of maintaining a supporting cast around Burrow, and their management of the salary cap has been puzzling at times.

An injury to Burrow is one thing Cincinnati can't adequately plan for because no backup can possibly replicate the two-time Pro Bowler's performance level.

It's tough to envision a bleaker outlook for a team that's sitting at 2-0.