Vikings’ opponent on Sunday is leaning on a backup quarterback, too

Before the Vikings played their Sunday night game against the Falcons, they knew their next opponent, the Bengals, would be without starting quarterback and reigning NFL Comeback Player of the Year Joe Burrow.

The next morning, after a tough home loss, the Vikings found themselves in the same situation, as Kevin O’Connell announced J.J. McCarthy would miss at least one game with an ankle sprain.

Now, the teams will meet Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium at noon led by backup quarterbacks: Carson Wentz for the Vikings, and Jake Browning for the Bengals.

Browning continues the streak of familiar faces at QB the Vikings have faced through the first three weeks of the season.

He signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2019, staying with the team through training camp in 2021, seemingly as the No. 2 quarterback, only to be axed in 53-man roster cuts.

Browning was quickly signed by the Bengals. He also subbed for Burrow the last time the Bengals and Vikings met in 2023, leading Cincinnati to a 27-24 overtime win.

During the game, Browning yelled an expletive-laced message into a camera about how the Vikings shouldn’t have cut him.

This past weekend, Browning took over at quarterback for the Bengals against the Jaguars in the first half when Burrow exited with what was diagnosed with a turf toe injury. He’s expected to miss a minimum of three months.

Browning led the Bengals to a 31-27 win, completing 21 of 32 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns. He threw three interceptions and was sacked once.

Down 27-24 with under 4 minutes on the clock, Browning executed a 15-play, 92-yard scoring drive, taking the ball in the end zone himself on a 1-yard rush to cap the drive.

Browning has experience in the Bengals offense under Taylor, as he’s been in Cincinnati, primarily on the practice squad, since 2023.

He took over long-term for Burrow that season when Burrow had a torn wrist ligament. Browning appeared in nine games, starting seven. He completed 70.4% of his passes for 1,936 yards and 12 touchdowns with seven interceptions. Last year, he appeared in three games but did not record any passing stats.

But, Flores continued, he doesn’t expect Browning being at the helm to change much about what Taylor schemes up for his offense, which includes some of the top skill players in the NFL in receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and running back Chase Brown.

While Browning will start Sunday, the Bengals promoted Brett Rypien, whom the Vikings cut in August, from their practice squad to their 53-man roster Tuesday.

Rypien’s exit, plus the trade of Sam Howell to the Eagles, created the opening for Wentz to sign on as the Vikings’ backup QB and undrafted free agent Max Brosmer to stay on the active roster.

Flores said he was “in the lab” prepping for Cincinnati and found out at the same time the public did that McCarthy was out for Sunday and Wentz would step in under center.

Wentz doesn’t have the experience in the Vikings’ system that Browning does in the Bengals’, but the 32-year-old has the upper hand in experience overall.

“He’s really taken to the role he came in for, knowing that he’s one play away,” Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said Tuesday. “He’s been very intentional about getting up to speed in our offense in a short time.”

That’s the life of a backup quarterback.