Never heard of a quarterback getting a thumb cramp’: Cincinnati’s Jake Browning returns
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning left Sunday’s NFL Week 14 win against the Indianapolis Colts at Paycor Stadium during the fourth quarter with an apparent thumb injury.
The Bengals announced a short time later that Browning was probable to return to the game with muscle cramps. He returned to the game for the Bengals’ next offensive series after he briefly was replaced by AJ McCarron, who was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster last week.
Browning held the thumb at the end of a second-down scramble toward the sideline with 14:47 left. Browning took a knee, and headed to the locker room for evaluation.
“There wasn’t like a hit or anything,” analyst Jay Feely said during a replay.
“That is strange,” play-by-play announcer Tom McCarthy added. “He’s trying to get it straight. … I don’t remember any other play where something happened earlier.”
“It had to have happened earlier though,” Feely replied.
Browning returned to the sideline a short time later with nothing on the thumb. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters after the game that Browning got an IV in the locker room.
“It must be an adjustment to playing again,” Browning told CBS sideline reporter Tiffany Blackmon on the field after the game. “And it’s cold, so then I just don’t drink water. And then I cramp, and then I’m pissed off, getting an IV, and then come out. Luckily, AJ went in, and it sounds like he should’ve had a touchdown.”
From The Enquirer’s Charlie Goldsmith via Twitter.
“I’ve never heard of a quarterback getting a thumb cramp,” Feely said when Browning returned to the sideline. “I’m thrilled for him though.”
“That’s the best news that we’ve heard on a quarterback injury in a long time,” analyst James Lofton said.
“Absolutely. That’s as good as it could get for this Bengals team,” Feely added.
Browning appeared to land awkwardly on the thumb one play earlier, when he was shoved to the ground by a pair of Colts defenders after releasing a pass.
Browning, who was making his third NFL start, replaced starting quarterback Joe Burrow during a game in November against the Baltimore Ravens, after Burrow injured his right wrist.
McCarron hadn’t thrown a pass in a regular-season NFL game since 2020, when he played for the Houston Texans. He played for the Bengals from 2015 to 2017.
Shortly after entering Sunday’s game, McCarron had a touchdown pass to receiver Tee Higgins nullified by a penalty by Higgins for offensive pass interference. The Bengals settled for an Evan McPherson field goal.
McCarron completed his only pass attempt, to Trayveon Williams for no gain.
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