Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Jake Browning has landed with the Los Angeles Chargers, according to reports.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported the move Tuesday. Follow-up accounts indicated Browning is joining the practice squad.
The Chargers placed backup Trey Lance on injured reserve with a groin injury, leaving DJ Uiagalelei as the only other quarterback on the active roster behind Justin Herbert.
Los Angeles is 0-5 after five weeks, one of three winless teams in the league along with the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans.
Herbert has been sacked 17 times this season, second-most among quarterbacks, while throwing for 937 yards with five touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Browning signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2019 out of Washington. He spent his early years primarily on Minnesota’s practice squad after being waived following training camp.
In five preseason appearances with the Vikings, Browning completed 23 of 46 passes for 218 yards and two interceptions. Minnesota waived him again after the 2021 preseason, and he later signed with the Cincinnati Bengals.
In 2023, Browning started seven games for the Bengals while Joe Burrow was injured and went 4-3. He completed 70.4 percent of his passes — leading the NFL — for 1,936 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions, plus three rushing scores.
One of those wins came against the Vikings. Browning led Cincinnati to a 27-24 overtime victory after the Bengals trailed by 14 points in the fourth quarter. After the game, Browning said, “They never should have cut me!”
The Bengals then signed him to a two-year, $1.945 million deal.
Browning’s 2025 results were mixed. He started three games, finished 0-3, and threw for 771 yards with six touchdowns and eight interceptions.
This offseason he signed a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers worth roughly $1.3 million before being released when undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels won the backup job.
Browning has appeared in 17 career games with 10 starts, completing 68.5 percent of his passes for 2,707 yards, 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
The former Viking now provides another experienced option for a Chargers team that has struggled early and is managing injuries at the position.
