Browning stepped into the Bengals' starting QB role for the final seven games of the 2023 season, after spending the '21 and '22 seasons on the team's practice squad and the first 10 contests of '23 as a backup ... He completed 71.5 percent of his passing attempts for 1868 yards and 11 TDs as a starter, becoming the third NFL QB since 1950 to record at least 1500 passing yards and 10 TDs with a completion percentage of 70 or higher in his first seven career starts ... Made the 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 who spent his first two seasons ('19-20) on the Vikings' practice squad before joining the Bengals prior to the '21 campaign ... Set numerous career passing records during four-year career at the University of Washington (2015-18), including attempts (1483), completions (958), yards (12,296) and TDs (94) ... Teammate of Bengals OT Jonah Williams at Folsom (Calif.) High School, where he set California prep records for career passing attempts (1708), completions (1191), yards (16,775) and TDs (229).
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 Bengals as exclusive rights player on 4-23-24.
2019—Did not play as a rookie ... Spent entire 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 just before the start of the 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 the active roster for regular-season finale vs. Baltimore and AFC Championship at Kansas City, but was inactive for both contests ... Played in all three preseason games, completing 42 of 64 passes for 452 yards and a TD.
2023—Played in nine games with seven starts at QB, after making 53-man roster out of training camp for first time in his career ... Completed 171 of 243 passes (70.4 percent) for 1936 yards and 12 TDs, good for a 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 in Game 10 at Baltimore he entered in the second quarter following Burrow's season-ending wrist 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 to record at least 1500 passing yards and 10 TD passes with completion percentage of 70 or higher in their first seven starts ... Ranked second in the NFL in passing yards and completion percentage over final seven weeks of the regular season ... Made first career regular-season 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 ... His 86.5 completion percentage marked the fifth highest in a game in team history, and he became the 10th player in the Super Bowl era to pass for at least 350 yards while completing 85 percent or more of his attempts ... TD pass was a 76-yarder to Chase to give Bengals first lead of the game in third quarter ... Also rushed for 22 yards on two attempts, including one-yard TD that tied game in fourth quarter ... Earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week award for game against Jaguars ... Posted career-high 122.7 passer rating on Dec. 10 vs. Indianapolis, finishing 18 of 24 for 275 yards and two TDs ... Also scored a rushing TD for second straight game ... Passed for 324 yards on Dec. 16 vs. Minnesota, with 243 coming in second half/OT to lead Bengals to comeback win ... Had two TD passes in fourth quarter (both to WR Tee Higgins), and connected with WR Tyler Boyd for 44-yard gain in OT that set up game-winning FG ... His 76.0 completion percentage from Weeks 12-15 marked the second highest by any NFL QB through their 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 (75.0) for 156 yards and three TDs with one INT in season finale vs. Cleveland.
Spent four seasons (2015-18) at the University of Washington ... Four-year starter, who started 53 of 54 possible games in his career ... His 39 wins as a starter set school and Pac-12 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's 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.
