Jake Browning’s latest stop came with a twist: the former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback has landed with the Los Angeles Chargers, and that move has opened a door that didn’t seem to exist a moment ago.
For Browning, this is a fresh shot to impress a new coaching staff after being out in the cold for a few weeks. He arrives in Los Angeles with a real opportunity to show what he can do, even if his starting path looks anything but straightforward at the moment.
The Chargers still have Justin Herbert at the top of the depth chart, but his recent play has turned a once-settled situation into something far more unstable. The team’s circumstances around him have been rough, and there isn’t an easy answer waiting for the 2026 campaign.
That’s why some around the league are wondering whether the Chargers could eventually consider a trade, especially after a 0-5 start. Adam Schefter, though, has heard otherwise.
While other have debated whether Justin Herbert should be traded, the Chargers have not.
Cc: @tyschmit
🎧 https://t.co/9tlm7cvFNz pic.twitter.com/Yuk4jNSKhK
- Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 13, 2026
Browning’s arrival has only poured more fuel on that speculation, even though he enters his new locker room third on the depth chart. DJ Uiagalelei sits ahead of him, with Trey Lance on IR.
If the Chargers ever become tempted by an offer strong enough - Schefter floated the idea of three first-round picks - then the door could swing open for Browning to climb quickly. Herbert, after all, was the 2020 sixth-overall pick, and that kind of move would shake up everything in L.A.
There’s also a familiar storyline baked into Browning’s new situation. During his time with Cincinnati from 2021 through 2025, he saw up close how a veteran quarterback can step in and change the direction of a team on short notice.
That lesson came into focus last year, when Browning started three games for the Bengals before the team traded with the Cleveland Browns for Joe Flacco. Browning had been in line to run the offense after Joe Burrow went down with an injury that sidelined Cincinnati’s star QB for half of last season, but the job eventually shifted to Flacco.
So while Browning begins his Chargers stint behind Uiagalelei, the setup isn’t impossible to imagine if the organization ever decides to move on from Herbert before the trade deadline. In that scenario, Browning would be positioned to take over if he can move ahead on the depth chart.
What won’t happen is a revenge game against Cincinnati. Browning once barked into a camera, “They never should’ve (expletive) cut me,” after beating the Minnesota Vikings, another one of his former teams. The emotion was raw, and the line stuck.
"They never should've f****** cut me!" - Jake Browning.
What a clip from the @Bengals https://t.co/xkpINGmrTx pic.twitter.com/ybuItiSAWB
- James Rapien (@JamesRapien) December 17, 2023
For a brief moment, it looked possible that a similar scene could unfold in Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That idea faded when the Bucs released Browning in favor of undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels on cutdown day.
And if anyone was wondering whether Browning had moved past all of it, his track record says otherwise. The Vikings let him go in 2021, and his “they never should’ve cut him” burst didn’t come until December of 2023.
As for a Chargers-Bengals matchup, that only happens if both teams reach the playoffs. With Los Angeles sitting winless through five games, that path looks extremely unlikely.
In Other News...
Bengals Kept The AFC North Race Alive With A Bigger Test Looming
Baltimores overtime win over Atlanta tightened the AFC North picture, and Cincinnati did its part to keep the division race from slipping away by knocking off Miami and ending a two-game skid. Clevelands loss to the Jets knocked the Browns off a three-game run, while Pittsburgh stayed in the mix with a win over Indianapolis and a strong showing from Jaylen Warren, leaving the division crowded again after Week 5.
For the Bengals, the timing matters almost as much as the result. A win like this buys some breathing room and resets the tone after a rough stretch, but the schedule does not offer much time to enjoy it with a bigger test ahead once the bye passes. With Baltimore now in front, Cincinnatis next stretch figures to tell a lot about whether this victory was just a needed pause in the slide or the start of something more meaningful. [Read more 🡒]
Former Bengals Keep Exposing A Defensive Problem Cincinnati Still Has
The Bengals defensive issues have been a recurring theme, and a few familiar names are helping keep that conversation alive. Akeem Davis-Gaither, now with the Colts, has been one of the former Cincinnati defenders drawing attention for the way he is tackling and staying involved, while the broader picture still points back to the same concern the Bengals have been trying to solve. The piece also tracks where Trey Hendrickson stands as he works back from injury ahead of a matchup with the Ravens, another reminder of how much Cincinnatis edge presence still matters.
Joseph Ossais situation adds another layer to the story, especially with his status up in the air after leaving the Jets Week 5 win. For the Bengals, the thread connecting all of it is hard to ignore: former players are still being used as a measuring stick for a defense that has not fully steadied itself, and the current group is left trying to show it can be more reliable than the version fans keep seeing on film and in the rankings. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Fans Should Already Be Watching Baltimore This Week
The Bengals are using their bye week to catch their breath, but the bigger picture in the AFC North is already shifting toward Baltimore. Cincinnati does not play this Sunday, which leaves plenty of room to keep an eye on the Ravens and how their injury situation develops before the teams meet again on Oct. 25.
Baltimores quarterback picture is still tied to Lamar Jacksons recovery from an ankle injury, and former Bengal Trey Hendrickson is also dealing with a finger issue that makes his return difficult to pin down. By the time the Bengals head to Maryland, the matchup could look very different depending on how those two situations unfold, which gives this idle week a little more relevance than most. [Read more 🡒]