Former Washington Huskies quarterback Jake Browning was expected to start the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' first NFL preseason game on Friday night against the New York Jets. Instead, a back injury suffered during practice this past week scrapped those plans and led to second-year Connor Bazelak and rookie undrafted free agent Jalon Daniels splitting time under center. The record-setting passer from his days on Montlake signed a one-year deal with the Buccaneers on March 13 with the goal of being the backup to starter Baker Mayfield, who is going into the final year of his contract. "We're hopeful," Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said Saturday morning when asked if it's reasonable to think he could play in the second preseason game at home next Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs. "I'll see how he comes along during the week."
Jake Browning, who strained his back in joint practice Wed., will not play tonight vs the Jets. Connor Bazelak and Jalon Daniels will split the Bucs QB duties. — Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) August 14, 2026 Browning has made a solid career since entering the league with the Minnesota Vikings after signing as an undrafted free agent following the 2019 draft. The former Folsom High School star and 39-game winner for ex-Huskies' coach Chris Petersen from 2015-18 spent three years with the NFC North organization on the practice squad, which also proved to be the case in his first two seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2021-22. In his third season with the Bengals in 2023, Browning beat out Trevor Siemian to back up Joe Burrow over three preseason games. It paved the way for the California native to start seven games following an injury to Burrow, appearing in nine games total and throwing for 1,936 yards and 12 touchdowns with 7 interceptions. That season, Browning beat Minnesota in Week 15 with a 14-point comeback that saw him complete 29-of-42 passes for 324 yards and 2 touchdowns with an interception to finish with a 4-3 record as the Bengals' starter in Burrow's absence. Browning parlayed his success into a two-year deal to remain in Cincinnati as the ex-LSU national champion's backup, where he made three more starts and eight total appearances between 2024-25. This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Late Week Injury Forces Ex-UW QB to Miss Bucs' Preseason Opener