Bengals Training Camp Preview: QB
Players:
9. Joe Burrow
6. Jake Browning
11. Logan Woodside
4. Rocky Lombardi
We start off with one of the simpler positions for the Bengals. Nothing is happening atop the depth chart, and we hope there will be little to no action taking place here for many years to come. Joe Burrow is the number 1, and he is hungry after suffering a season ending elbow injury in a game against the Ravens last season. It was a tough year for Burrow, who started the year with a calf injury, and then sustained the elbow injury just a few weeks after things had finally begun to pick up. Through OTA’s, things have been looking good, and Burrow will look to get back to the form that has led many to consider him as a top 2-3 QB in the league.
When Burrow went down, it was Jake Browning who filled in. Browning was on shaky ground as the backup, following an underwhelming preseason. Worsening matters was his lacklustre performance off the bench against the Ravens, and poor first start against the Steelers. However, Zac Taylor and the coaching staff adjusted the game plan, and the new changes seemed to really benefit Browning. While he did get a lot of help from his friends, he still made big plays when he had to, and led the team to some big wins. Despite falling just short of making the playoffs, Browning has secured his spot as the number 2.
The number 3 spot on the depth chart is the one that will feature a camp battle, and will almost certainly be for a spot on the practice squad, given that the Bengals haven’t had 3 QB’s on the roster since 2019. Logan Woodside enters camp as the favourite. The veteran was actually a 7th round pick by the Bengals in 2018, and he returns for a second stint. Woodside has only seen a small handful of snaps with the Titans and Falcons, but has put up some solid preseason tape.
Woodside’s challenger is rookie undrafted free agent Rocky Lombardi. As I mentioned in my article analyzing each of this year’s UDFA signings, Lombardi is an overage prospect who is still developing his technique, accuracy, and mental game. But he has a good arm and good athleticism. Though overaged prospects don’t always pan out, you have to respect the tools in what is a battle for a 3rd string/practice squad spot. He will need to show improvements to best out Woodside, and is the underdog, but he can’t be ruled out.
If neither Woodside nor Lombardi impress, the waiver wire is also a place the Bengals could search for a 3rd string QB, as they did with Will Grier last offseason.
Modified Featured Image Via: Alexander Jonesi (CC)