With Joe Burrow out after toe surgery, Bengals’ coach Zac Taylor turns to Jake Browning. But can the offense stay sharp without its star QB?

“To answer the question, Jake Browning with these weapons can win a fair share of games. This staff can recalibrate the offense around what Browning does best, and they still have Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and company,” wrote The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr.

So yes, the 29-year-old has the tools to keep Cincinnati moving, even if he can’t replicate Burrow’s magic. Still, concerns remain. As Dehner Jr. explained, Browning can steer the ship, but he can’t lift all boats. He predicts the Bengals landing between seven and 10 wins.

“Perhaps we have the drama of a potential Burrow return in December with the team still relevant, but there are too many variables to go there yet.” Translation: fans can hope, but the road is tricky.

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And the last game shows that.

Burrow’s injury happened in the second quarter against Jacksonville after a sack. He was immediately sent to the medical tent and didn’t return. Yet, under Browning, Cincinnati pulled out a 31-27 win. He threw for 241 yards, had 2 passing touchdowns, 3 interceptions, and added 1 rushing touchdown.

Despite three interceptions, the 29-year-old QB kept the offense moving and sealed the win with a clutch fourth-quarter drive.

While Browning kept the offense afloat, the defense knows it must tighten up to support the shift under center. Defensive coordinator Al Golden is taking that challenge head-on.

“I think I have to personally do a better job on third down,” Golden said. “That begins and ends with me. I have to put our guys in a better position to be successful. It’s always the marriage of rush and coverage. It’s not just the rush; it’s not just the coverage. That lies at my feet. I have to do a better job with the plan and getting some free hitters. It just hasn’t been good enough,” Golden said.

However, it seems the head coach isn’t much worried.

Zac Taylor sees no need to change Bengals’ offensive scheme for now

Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor isn’t planning a big shake-up with the offense while Jake Browning steps in for the injured Burrow. Taylor believes Browning, who has been with the Bengals for five years, already understands the system and can fit right in.

“Preparation equals confidence,” Taylor said as the Bengals (2-0) gear up to face the Minnesota Vikings (1-1) on Sunday.

He emphasized that Browning had spent years preparing for moments like this, studying every scenario and walking through it mentally. That preparation gives him a calm certainty, letting him focus on execution rather than improvisation.

Taylor sees that mindset as a key reason the offense can keep rolling without Burrow.

Browning’s journey to this spot has been steady. He started as an undrafted free agent with the Vikings in 2019 before joining Cincinnati’s practice squad in 2021. In 2023, he stepped in during Burrow’s wrist injury and posted a personal record of 4–3 as the starting quarterback.

Now, with Burrow on injured reserve due to turf toe, Browning gets another chance to show he can guide the Bengals.

“My main goal is just to execute well, play fast, make fast decisions, be decisive and try to help us win,” Browning said. While Burrow’s possible return not a fiction, the team recently added two backup options in Mike White and Sean Clifford. So now, let’s see how Taylor’s approach works in Week 3.