The Cincinnati Bengals were hoping that Jake Browning could fill at lead some of the massive void left by Joe Burrow. But three straight losses and a three interception day in Week 5 have the team thinking about making a change at the quarterback position going forward.
What Options Do The Bengals Have At QB?
During his media availability on Monday, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor was asked about the QB situation. Instead of stating that Browning would remain the starter for their upcoming game against the Packers, Taylor said that the team is evaluating its options.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor said the team will evaluate its options when asked if Jake Browning will start at QB against Green Bay.
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) October 6, 2025
What exactly are the options if Browning is benched?
Option 1: Trade for a new starter
There are a handful of backup quarterbacks that the Bengals could make a deal for. Guys like Russell Wilson and Kirk Cousins could be made available for the right price, both of whom have winning on their resumes and would be eager for another chance to turn their late-career fortunes.
The trade deadline is still about a month away, but Cincinnati has to act now if they want to salvage their season.
Option 2: Start Brett Rypien
Could they, for at least a week, give the current backup a shot? Brett Rypien entered the season as a member of the practice squad, but could be sprung into action if the Bengals want to keep things in-house.
Rypien has started four games in his six-year career, and has thrown more than twice as many interceptions (9) as he has touchdowns (4). He was signed in late August, meaning that he didn’t appear in any preseason games with the team. The last time that Rypien attempted a pass in a regular season game was November 5th, 2023.
Option 3: Hit the free agency pool
If they don’t want to give up any capital in order to bring in a starter, the Bengals could take a look at the free agent market. Unfortunately, at this point in the season, there aren’t many viable options.
The list consists of names like Taylor Heinicke, Tim Boyle, and Desmond Ridder.
