The Los Angeles Chargers signed former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning to their practice squad Wednesday.
Chargers signed former Bengals and Bucs QB Jake Browning to their practice squad.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 14, 2026
Browning, 30, appeared 17 times for the Bengals from 2023-25, spending time with the Minnesota Vikings beforehand and signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March before they released him ahead of the 2026 season.
Browning signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2019, spending the entirety of his first two seasons with the team with the practice squad. He looked to be in a similar situation in 2021, but the Vikings waived him during final roster cuts. He signed with the Bengals and played a similar role for two more years before getting his break.
Largely a backup for the Bengals, Browning got his first NFL opportunity in 2023 after Joe Burrow went down with a torn ligament in his throwing wrist. He completed 70.4 of his passes across nine games that year, leading the NFL, while throwing for 12 touchdowns and 1,936 yards with seven interceptions.
Browning didn’t see much of the field the following year, appearing in three games without attempting a pass, but made three more starts in the 2025 season.
He had far less success last year, losing each of his three starts while throwing eight interceptions to just six touchdowns.
Why Did the Chargers Sign Jake Browning?
The Chargers lost quarterback Trey Lance to a groin injury on Oct. 10, placing him on injured reserve and thinning their quarterback depth.
DJ Uiagaleilei took over as the primary backup afterwards, but he has never appeared in an NFL game, so the Chargers may want to add some experience to their QB room.
On top of their injury trouble, the Chargers are off to a horrible start to the 2026 season. They sit last in the AFC West with a 0-5 record, and have the third fewest points per game in the NFL. Browning almost certainly won’t take starter Justin Herbert’s job, but having him behind Herbert to provide a reliable offensive floor isn’t the worst idea.
Things won’t get any easier for the Chargers in their next matchup, as they’re set to face the 4-0 Chiefs on the road at 1:25 p.m. PT on Sunday.
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