Jake Browning faces drug test request ‘randomly’ after Bengals’ thrilling victory over Vikings

Jake Browning has now won 3 out 4 games for the Bengals.

Jake Browning faces drug test request ‘randomly’ after Bengals’ thrilling victory over Vikings

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning (Image via IMAGO)

Jake Browning was not expecting to get a doping notice from the NFL after he led the Cincinnati Bengals to a 14-point comeback victory over the Minnesota Vikings at Paycor Stadium on Sunday night. That was Browning’s third win as a starter since Joe Burrow was put on injured reserve.

The 27-year-old recorded his second-best outing over the franchise that let him go in 2021. He completed 29 of 42 passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns. Usually, players expect congratulatory messages from friends, families and fans on such performances, but there was an exception on this occasion.

Right after Browning went inside the locker room and checked his phone for messages, one particular text caught his attention. It was from the league notifying him of a drug test that he had to go through the next day.

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This is Joe, DCO, on behalf of the NFL. You’re on my list for a urine steroid test tomorrow. I will be in the testing area from 9:30 to 12:30.
the text read via Browning’s Instagram account.

It was a personal victory for Jake Browning

Despite playing in the playoffs with the Washington Huskies in his final season, Jake Browning went undrafted in 2019. Subsequently, he was signed to their practice squad by the Minnesota Vikings. However, he never managed to dislodge Kirk Cousins from his starting QB role.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning (6) celebrates after beating the Jacksonville Jaguars in overtime at EverBank Stadium.
Jake Browning (Image via ESPN)

He became an understudy to Joe Burrow after Minnesota let him walk. But he had to wait until the Jacksonville Jaguars game to get his first start in the NFL. After exacting his revenge on the Vikings on Sunday, the NFL Network’s camera caught Browning screaming, “They never should have cut me.”

I remember getting cut there (Minnesota) the last time and just being told, 'Hey, we might have a spot for you on the practice squad. Go to the hotel and wait.' So, I sat in the hotel for a couple of hours, not knowing if I had a job or not, and just basically got a call from my agent. They didn't tell me. I had been there for two years. I've been cut my fair share of times, and that was probably the crappiest one.
Browning told NFL.com

Judging by how the Vikings are going through their problems for the quarterback spot since Cousins picked up a season-ending injury. They traded Joshua Dobbs from Arizona. He won a couple of games but started to deteriorate, and he was benched for veteran Nick Mullens, who played against the Bengals.

With the Minnesota win, the Bengals are now 8-6 and right back in playoff contention. They currently sit just outside of the wild card spots behind AFC North rivals the Cleveland Browns (8-5).

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