QB Jake Browning of the Cincinnati Bengals talked about his feelings heading into his rematch with the Minnesota Vikings in Week 15.
In addition, Browning stated he has no ill will towards the Vikings, who gave him his NFL debut, despite the fact that they cut him two years ago.
“They were the only team that wanted me for two years there,” Browning remarked at a press conference on December 12 ahead of his fourth start, taking Joe Burrow’s place after the latter had season-ending wrist surgery in November. “I believe there is some gratitude from my time there, and it helped me to be able to come into this building and accomplish what I have been able to accomplish in the past few years.”
Browning’s opportunity to enter the NFL was granted when the Vikings signed him in his rookie season, following his undrafted status out of Washington in 2019. Browning worked with and learned from former fourth-round pick turned Pro Bowler Kirk Cousins for two seasons.
“I enjoyed being around Kirk a lot.” He’s an expert’s expert; I picked up a lot from him. I entered as an undrafted player, and he was very open with me. We had a great rapport,” Browning remarked. “Overall, I had a very positive experience there, and I’m very grateful.”
While a number of Bengals reporters were hoping Browning could shed light on the Vikings’ game plan, Browning acknowledged he only knows a few of the players and is unaware of the new offensive and defensive schemes.
Naturally, I know a lot of people there, but the GM and coaching staff are different,” Browning remarked. “Seeing some old faces before and after the game will be nice.”
Nick Mullens will create history on Saturday when he takes the field as the fourth quarterback to start for the Vikings this year.
On December 14, Kevin Seifert of ESPN wrote, “According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Vikings will be the 29th NFL team since 1950 to endure that frequency of turnover at the position.”
Teams rarely succeed with so many quarterback changes in the past, but the Vikings, who have a 78.5% chance of making the postseason according to ESPN’s Power Index, seem ready to break that trend.
Seifert wrote, “Only four of the previous 28 teams have advanced to the playoffs, and all of them… have had their original starter back for at least some of the remaining play in the season.”
Prior to getting ahead of itself in the race for the postseason, though, Minnesota might become the first team since 1987 to win with all four of its starting quarterbacks (Jaren Hall was given credit for a victory in Week 9 even though Josh Dobbs took over in the first quarter).
Mullens looks ready to accomplish that as he gets ready for his first start since the meaningless 2022 season finale against the Chicago Bears.
Mullens stated at a press conference on December 13 that “it’s not cool to start, it’s cool to start and play well, and that’s the goal and that’s what we’re all working for.”
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