Bengals' new QB references Josh Dobbs as he prepares to take over for Joe Burrow
Josh Dobbs has gained a lot of attention across the NFL with his impromptu and impressive start with the Minnesota Vikings. It appears that performance hasn't been lost on another new starting QB. New Cincinnati Bengals starting QB Jake Browning will make his first career start on Sunday vs. after Joe Burrow suffered a torn […]
Josh Dobbs has gained a lot of attention across the NFL with his impromptu and impressive start with the Minnesota Vikings. It appears that performance hasn't been lost on another new starting QB.
New Cincinnati Bengals starting QB Jake Browning will make his first career start on Sunday vs. after Joe Burrow suffered a torn ligament in his right wrist that prematurely ended his season last week. Browning made mention of the former Tennessee Vols standout on Monday during an interview for the Bengals' website, and he noted the difference in his situation and that of Dobbs in response to a question about starting fast in his last game.
"I think half of that play was just getting warmed up again," Browning said. "Kind of hard to on the sideline, you can't really open up and run. I've been in this offense for a while. It's not a Josh Dobbs situation where I'm showing up on a Tuesday, get thrown in on Sunday. I know the offense. As far as the favorite plays thing, Joe likes having that throughout the week and my thing is just call … just get someone open. I'll get it to the open guys. Just get somebody open and call whatever is going to help us beat the Steelers and I'll just play accordingly."
At first glance, one might think it's a slight by Browning saying he knows the offense when comparing the situations, but it's not at all. To the contrary, it's an acknowledgment by Browning of the very difficult situation Dobbs faced when he came over to Minnesota at the trade deadline on Tuesday October 31 and starred for the Vikings five days later in Minnesota's 27-24 win over Atlanta.
Browning certainly is in a different situation than Dobbs in that he's been with the Bengals for over two years now. He's familiar with the offense and isn't in a hectic and unfamiliar environment like the latter experienced earlier this month.
Browning spoke further about backup quarterbacks and was complimentary of the quality of them across the league after being asked about their success, including Dobbs, this year. He also mentioned the need to open things up and let them do their jobs.
"I think it speaks to the quality of backups that are in the NFL now," Browning said. "But also I think as I watch some of those, it's coaches calling plays to let them go win the game. You watch some guys and you can tell they're trying to protect the quarterback and call plays just so the quarterback doesn't lose the game.
"That's kind of been my thing to the coaches. 'Hey, let's call whatever plays are going to help us beat the Steelers,' and not be as worried as much about whether they're protecting me with certain play calls or trying to run the ball just to give me plays off or something like that. Let's call plays to go win the game."
Browning and Dobbs aren't the only backups being asked to step in and try to lead teams with legitimate playoff hopes. Browns rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson managed to lead a game-winning drive in the final minutes to clip the Steelers 13-10 last week. Gardner Minshew has acquitted himself well with the 5-5 Colts, who remain in the playoff race.
Browning appears to confident and poised to be able to take over for Burrow and lead them to the playoffs. After all, that's what backup quarterbacks appear to be doing in 2023.
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