Do Cincinnati Bengals Have Backup Quarterback Problem?

Joe Burrow has been out since July 27 due to a calf strain.

CINCINNATI — Don't look now, but the Bengals may have a quarterback problem. 

No, this isn't an update on Joe Burrow. The 26-year-old continues to recover from a right calf strain. He hasn't practiced since suffering the injury on July 27 and that isn't expected to change this week. 

This has to do with the two guys that are competing to be Burrow's backup.

Trevor Siemian and Jake Browning are struggling. There's no other way to put it. 

Both guys have thrown multiple interceptions over the past few practices and haven't moved the ball much. They were also underwhelming in Cincinnati's 36-19 loss to Green Bay last week. 

No one was expecting Siemian or Browning to look like Burrow on the practice field, but both guys still get to work with Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd. 

Related: Check out highlights from Monday's session here. 

They still have Irv Smith Jr. at tight end and plenty of other options in the passing game, including Joe Mixon and Trenton Irwin. 

"I just try to think about it as getting more work, getting better with other quarterbacks, building more chemistry," Chase said.

Both quarterbacks have shown flashes of what they can do. Siemian and Browning have both found Chase and Higgins for big plays downfield.

The problem is how inconsistent they've been. In fact, instead of trending upward, both guys appear to be headed in the wrong direction.

Things have gotten progressively worse over the past few weeks. 

Browning threw an ugly interception to Nick Scott on Monday. He also threw an interception to Trey Hendrickson on a screen pass. 

If he wants to win the job, he has to take care of the ball. 

Siemian is the more experienced player and has more physical ability: He's taller, bigger and has the stronger arm. 

Those physical traits haven't separated him from Browning in the competition because he's made some poor decisions in practice that have led to turnovers. 

To be clear: it isn't all bad. Browning threw a perfect ball deep downfield to Chris Evans on Monday. Siemian has had his fair share of highlight plays. 

Unfortunately, those moments are too far and few between, especially with both guys getting regular reps with the first-team offense. 

That doesn't mean the coaching staff is going to panic. They know Browning well. He's been in their system for nearly two years. 

Siemian worked with offensive coordinator Brian Callahan in Denver and is an experienced veteran. 

There's still time for either guy to take the reigns and grab the backup job, but they need to play better moving forward. 

Friday's game against the Falcons is a huge opportunity for both guys to separate themselves. Siemian is expected to start and play the entire first half. Browning will play the second half after starting in the preseason opener against the Packers. 

The Bengals always planned on alternating both guys. It's time for one of them to emerge and prove that he deserves the backup job. 

The team isn't practicing on Tuesday, but they'll be back on the field on Wednesday for their final session before Friday's game in Atlanta. 

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