Browning served as the Bengals' backup QB for a second straight season in 2024, after spending the '21 and '22 campaigns on Cincinnati's practice squad ... He stepped into the starting QB role for the final seven games in 2023, following starter Joe Burrow's season-ending injury in Week 11 ... As a starter, he completed 71.5 percent of his passes for 1868 yards and 11 TDs, becoming the third NFL QB since 1950 with at least 1500 passing yards, 10 TDs and a completion percentage of 70 in his first seven career starts ... Made 53-man roster out of training camp in 2023 for the first time in his career ... Originally a college free agent signee of Minnesota in 2019, he spent his first two seasons ('19-20) on the Vikings' practice squad before signing to Bengals' practice squad in '21 ... Set numerous career passing records during collegiate career at the University of Washington (2015-18), and helped lead Huskies to College Football Playoff appearance in 2016.
Signed with Minnesota as college free agent on 5-3-19 ... Waived by Vikings on 8-31-19 ... Signed to Vikings practice squad on 9-1-19 ... Signed to Vikings roster on 1-13-20 (Reserve/Future) ... Waived by Vikings on 9-5-20 ... Signed to Vikings practice squad on 9-6-20 ... Signed to Vikings roster on 1-4-21 (Reserve/Future) ... Waived by Vikings on 8-31-21 ... Signed to Cincinnati practice squad on 9-7-21 ... Signed to Bengals roster on 2-15-22 ... Waived by Bengals on 8-30-22 ... Signed to Bengals practice squad on 8-31-22 ... Signed to Bengals roster on 1-31-23 (Reserve/Future) ... Received tender offer from Bengals on 2-28-24 ... Bengals contract expired on 3-13-24 (remained under tender) ... Re-signed with Bengals as exclusive rights player on 4-23-24.
2019—Spent entire rookie season on Minnesota's practice squad.
2020—Did not play ... Spent entire season on Minnesota's practice squad.
2021—Did not play ... Spent offseason with Minnesota, then was waived at final cuts and joined Cincinnati's practice squad prior to start of regular season ... Spent entire regular season and all of postseason on Bengals' practice squad.
2022—Spent entire season on Cincinnati's practice squad, listed as the No. 3 QB on the depth chart ... Elevated to active roster for regular-season finale vs. Baltimore and AFC Championship at Kansas City, but was inactive for both contests.
2023—Played in nine games with seven starts at QB ... Completed 171 of 243 passes (70.4 percent) for 1936 yards and 12 TDs with seven INTs, good for passer rating of 98.4 ... Made NFL debut on Sept. 10 at Cleveland, taking four snaps late in fourth quarter in relief of QB Joe Burrow ... Spent first 10 games as backup QB, then entered Game 10 at Baltimore in second quarter following Burrow's season-ending injury ... Completed eight of 14 passes for 68 yards and a TD against Ravens' fourth-ranked passing defense; First career TD pass came late in fourth quarter on a two-yarder to WR Ja'Marr Chase ... Passed for 1868 yards and 11 TDs with a 71.5 completion percentage in final seven games (all starts), joining former St. Louis Rams QB Kurt Warner and former N.Y. Jets QB Chad Pennington as only QBs since 1950 with at least 1500 passing yards, 10 TD passes and completion percentage of 70 in their first seven starts ... Ranked second in NFL in passing yards and completion percentage over final seven weeks of regular season ... Made first career start on Nov. 26 vs. Pittsburgh and completed 19 of 26 passes (73.1 percent) for 227 yards and one TD with one INT ... On Dec. 4 at Jacksonville, completed 32 of 37 passes (86.5 percent) for 354 yards and a TD to lead Bengals to overtime win on Monday Night Football; TD pass was 76-yarder to Chase to give Bengals their first lead in third quarter ... Named AFC Offensive Player of the Week
for performance against Jaguars ... Posted career-high 122.7 passer rating on Dec. 10 vs. Indianapolis, finishing 18 of 24 for 275 yards and two TDs ... Passed for 324 yards on Dec. 16 vs. Minnesota, with 243 coming in second half/OT to lead Bengals to comeback win ... His 76.0 completion percentage from Weeks 12-15 was second-highest through an NFL QB's first four starts since 1950 ... Went 28 of 42 for 335 yards and a TD with three INTs on Dec. 23 at Pittsburgh, including 80-yard TD pass to Higgins that marked team's longest play from scrimmage in 2023 ... Completed 18 of 24 passes for 156 yards and three TDs in season finale vs. Cleveland.
2024—Played in three games, taking relief snaps late in fourth quarter of each appearance ... Active/DNP in 14 games ... Saw action on Oct. 27 vs, Philadelphia, Nov. 3 vs. Las Vegas and Dec. 22 vs. Cleveland.
Spent four seasons (2015-18) at the University of Washington ... Started 53 of 54 possible games in his career ... His 39 wins as a starter set school and Pac-12 Conference records ... Left Washington with numerous career passing records, including attempts (1483), completions (958), yards (12,296) and TDs (94) ... Finished sixth in Heisman Trophy voting as a sophomore in 2016, when he helped lead Huskies to Pac-12 title and a berth in the College Football Playoff.
Hometown is Folsom, Calif. (outside Sacramento) ... Attended Folsom High School, where he put together one of the most decorated prep football careers in state history ... Set California prep records for career passing attempts (1708), completions (1191), yards (16.775) and TDs (229) ... Tied national record with 91 TDs as a senior ... Set California single-season passing yards record as a junior (5737), before breaking his own record as a senior (5790) ... Named Gatorade California Player of the Year in both junior and senior seasons, and was Division I Player of the Year in California as a senior ... Finance major at Washington.
NOTE ABOUT NFL EXPERIENCE: Browning did not earn an accrued year of experience toward NFL free agency in 2019, '20, '21 or '22.
Last Updated February 2025
