Jake Browning, Cincinnati Bengals
2022 Preseason Stats: 42-for-64, 65.6%, 452 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 33 rushing yards
Here’s another interesting option the Lions could put in a call on and check out. Browning’s star in college faded after he got Heisman votes as a sophomore in 2016, and after a couple years with the Minnesota Vikings he landed with the Bengals last year. He hasn not appeared in an NFL regular season game.
Not only has Browning had a strong preseason, but he’s also arguably performed better than incumbent No. 2 quarterback Brandon Allen. Despite Allen having the trust of the coaching staff, writers who cover the team have speculated about the legitimate possibility of an upset when it comes to who’s backing up Joe Burrow.
Browning showed poise and promise on the field this preseason, and looks like he would be a clear upgrade over Blough. It shouldn’t take much to get him considering the Bengals already clearly like Allen. Offering a guy who is a fringe roster player like guard Logan Stenberg could get the job done.
Cincinnati has a hole in their current starting offensive line at left guard, which happens to be where Stenberg plays. Right now, the Bengals have an unheralded rookie slated to start.
Stenberg really came on in the last two preseason games, looking like a bulldozer in the run game and looking adequate in pass protection. For a team that is unlikely to keep eight lineman, getting a backup quarterback upgrade for Stenberg could be a better option for Detroit than just cutting him and hoping he makes it through waivers.