Who Should I Start? Nick Mullens or Jake Browning

Thursday, August 15, 9:45 AM

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens will start Saturday's preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. Despite a challenging 2023 season where he went 0-3 with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions as a starter, Mullens is now firmly positioned as the No. 2 quarterback. Following him on the depth chart is second-year pro Jaren Hall. Head coach Kevin O'Connell expressed confidence in Mullens due to his solid grasp of the offense. Mullens is known for his high-risk, high-reward style and had notable success during his time with the San Francisco 49ers before joining the Vikings. Though he tends to turn the ball over, with 31 career interceptions in just 20 starts, he also boasts 34 touchdown passes. Last season, after Kirk Cousins' injury, Mullens had mixed results in five games (three starts), with a respectable 8.8 yards per attempt but eight interceptions. Mullens is a veteran with the potential to deliver strong performances, particularly if he maintains his solid rapport with star receiver Justin Jefferson.

Wednesday, August 14, 9:34 AM

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning (ribs) is expected to miss time with a rib injury, according to head coach Zac Taylor. Browning filled in admirably for Joe Burrow when the latter missed a large chunk of last season with a wrist injury, prompting the team to re-sign him as their backup quarterback. Veteran Logan Woodside and undrafted free agent Rocky Lombardi will be the quarterbacks under center when the Bengals travel to Chicago for their second preseason game.