It's not an ideal situation for the Cincinnati Bengals, of course.
No one in the NFL is envying the fact that Bengals superstar quarterback Joe Burrow is out for an extended period of time after toe surgery.
But it's the situation the Bengals find themselves in, and one they have to navigate as best they can.
So far, maybe not so good. Browning threw for just 125 yards in a Monday night loss to the Denver Broncos.
That's two mediocre or worse outings in a row. Even when Browning relieved Burrow in Week 2, he threw three interceptions and just bailed himself out after some other help late.
And maybe the most concerning part is the stat line for Ja'Marr Chase on Monday. He had five catches for just 23 yards.
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There aren't tons of options out there. Maybe a call could be made for Kirk Cousins.
But the reality is that the Bengals are running the risk of wasting a prime year of Chase and Tee Higgins.
Burrow might even be back by the end of the year, so it's not about getting a QB who can be the future. He just needs to be the present.
The Bengals are already missing Burrow. They have to be careful not to waste those highly paid receivers, too.
Of course, there's always next year.
But as Burrow's injury shows, nothing is a given. And Browning has left plenty to be desired, so if there was a time to make a move, it might be right now.
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