11-22-2023, 05:45 PM
I expect very little from Browning. He's probably a better runner than 9, but that's about it. He was the best of two pretty unfavorable options in camp, so here we are. I don't think the staff ever really thought Trevor Siemian would be as bad as he was, but that's how it went down.
My only hope for him is that he plays better with the first team guys than he did with the backups.
I think it's borderline negligent of them to have no viable backup on the roster. Even so, Joe isn't coming back this year, so asking Browning to succeed in a meaningful way, ie a run at making the playoffs, is kind of moot. If it was about coming out with a W while Joe gets healthy and takes over, then I'd be a bit more upset at the situation. The damage is most likely done as far as the season goes.
Best case scenario: the kid is Brock Purdy 2.0 and becomes a commodity with real value both as a legitimate backup and a potential trade piece. Worst case: he plays about like he did in preseason and the Bengals are forced to take a serious look at how they evaluate backup quarterback candidates in 2024.
My only hope for him is that he plays better with the first team guys than he did with the backups.
I think it's borderline negligent of them to have no viable backup on the roster. Even so, Joe isn't coming back this year, so asking Browning to succeed in a meaningful way, ie a run at making the playoffs, is kind of moot. If it was about coming out with a W while Joe gets healthy and takes over, then I'd be a bit more upset at the situation. The damage is most likely done as far as the season goes.
Best case scenario: the kid is Brock Purdy 2.0 and becomes a commodity with real value both as a legitimate backup and a potential trade piece. Worst case: he plays about like he did in preseason and the Bengals are forced to take a serious look at how they evaluate backup quarterback candidates in 2024.
