The Cincinnati Bengals are still unsure if Joe Burrow will play versus the Rams on Monday Night Football after he re-aggravated his calf injury during the loss to the Ravens. If Burrow is unable to play, backup Jake Browning will get the start.

Though the Bengals are hoping Burrow will be good to go, the team is confident in Browning. Wide receiver Tee Higgins hyped up Browning saying, “The guy can really sling it. He made good reads, he's a baller. Just a guy who goes out there and does the job well … He's way more confident in all things, during that time he was out there he was a vocal leader, as he should be. Built some confidence and [I'm] happy for him,” via Jay Morrison of Pro Football Network.

Article Continues Below
More Cincinnati Bengals News
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) celebrates after the game-winning touchdown pass to Tee Higgins in overtime of the NFL Week 17 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Denver Broncos at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. The Bengals took a 30-24 win in overtime to remain in the post season chase.
Joe Burrow takes blame for 2024 Bengals failure despite NFL-leading statsBen Strauss ·
Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) takes to the field prior to the Ravens' game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC wild card game.
Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey trolls Bengals over Shemar Stewart’s rookie holdoutJosh Davis ·
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor next to a silhouette of an American football player with a big question mark emoji inside. There is also a logo for the Cincinnati Bengals.
1 Cincinnati Bengals rookie who stood out most in 2025 minicampBen Strauss ·
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) warms up before the NFL game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Denver Broncos at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024.
Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase drops mic on Trey Hendrickson’s contract situationJaren Kawada ·
Cincinnati Bengals Trey Hendrickson speaks at a press conference after practice, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at Kettering Health Practice Fields in Downtown Cincinnati.
Bengals rumors: How serious is Trey Hendrickson about sitting out season?Zachary Weinberger ·
Cincinnati Bengals Trey Hendrickson speaks at a press conference after practice, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at Kettering Health Practice Fields in Downtown Cincinnati.
Bengals rumors: Insider offers cryptic Trey Hendrickson outlookRichard Pereira ·

Higgins also said, “At the end of the day we have to go out there and do our job. Coaches will put us in the best position to win, we gotta go out there and execute. If Joe doesn't play, we still have to do what we do.”

Jake Browning went undrafted out of Washington in 2019. He was on the Vikings practice squad for two seasons before joining the Bengals in 2021. Browning is now in his third season with the Bengals, but didn't win the backup job until this season when he beat out Trevor Siemian. If he plays, this will be his first career start.

If Joe Burrow doesn't play, this will be the first time he's missed a start, (outside of week 18), since tearing his ACL during his rookie season. Even with Tee Higgins' confidence in Browning, it's hard to see the Bengals avoiding an 0-3 start without Burrow available.