Ben Child
CINCINNATI — Even after two tough outings, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning has the complete backing of his head coach.
On Wednesday, Bengals coach Zac Taylor stood steadfast in supporting Browning after back-to-back defeats wherein the offense has struggled. “I've obtained a ton of confidence in Jake,” Taylor mentioned. “I am unwavering in that. I've seen one of the best of Jake. I do know that we will do an ideal job supporting him to the place he can go win video games for us.”
Browning began the final two video games instead of the injured Joe Burrow. Burrow is recovering following surgical procedure on Sept. 19 to restore a turf toe damage he suffered in Week 2 towards the Jacksonville Jaguars.
When Burrow went down in that sport, Browning threw three interceptions earlier than handing over a comeback, game-winning drive in a 31-27 victory.
However since then, the Bengals have scored a mixed 13 factors in two video games and Browning has struggled. He has accomplished 63.5% of his passes for 265 yards, one landing and two interceptions, giving 5 whole turnovers in three video games. Browning's Complete QBR of 26.5 ranks thirty third out of 35 gamers. The one gamers with a worse score, the Cleveland Browns' Joe Flacco and New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson, have been benched by their respective golf equipment.
The Bengals initially surveyed obtainable choices to exchange Burrow when he suffered the damage to the massive toe on his left foot. “With each place, we're at all times assessing,” mentioned Taylor, including that the first accountability for that lies with the personnel division. “They do an ideal job of that — presenting us choices when Joe went down.” The staff added two depth choices, veterans Brett Rypien and Mike White, to bolster the again of the roster. Rypien is the present backup whereas White is on the apply squad.
Browning has had earlier success because the staff's starter. In 2023, Browning began seven video games after Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist damage. He posted a 60.8 Complete QBR and accomplished 70.4% of his passes for 1,936 yards, 12 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. This yr, that success has eluded him up to now. After the staff's 28-3 loss to the Denver Broncos, Browning took it upon himself to guage the place issues want to enhance. “There's lots that goes into it and I am centered on my position and attempting to be the answer,” Browning mentioned after the sport. “Discovering a solution to be extra explosive, put up extra factors, maintain extra drives, to be higher on third down. Simply play higher offense basically.”
That falls on the coaches, too. When requested to guage Browning's current stretch, Taylor declined and mentioned the dearth of current output is a mirrored image on the complete offense — together with on the coach himself. “At the beginning as the pinnacle coach, it isn't a mirrored image on one participant,” mentioned Taylor, who can also be the staff's offensive playcaller. “It is on me. I've obtained to get ourselves in a greater place to have the ability to go.”
On Wednesday, Cincinnati offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher added that no gamers and coaches are enjoying nicely sufficient to place the staff in a profitable place. “It looks as if the boring reply, however it's true,” Pitcher mentioned. “We have got to do every part round Jake to assist him after which we want Jake's finest. We have seen Jake and what he can do when he's enjoying at his finest and we have to get him there.”
