Bengals backup quarterback Jake Browning wowed Cincinnati fans by helping lead the team to 24 points over the fourth quarter and overtime in a thrilling 27-24 comeback win over the Vikings on Saturday afternoon.
Amid his great performance, the signal-caller got an interesting text from the league.
On his Instagram Story, Browning, 27, posted a screengrab of a text message that appeared to be from someone from the NFL that told the QB he was due for a steroid test.
“This is Joe, DCO on behalf of the NFL. You’re on my list for a urine steroid test tomorrow,” the message wrote.
Per USA Today, the NFL randomly tests 10 players each week from the preseason to the playoffs, so Browning was likely next up on the list for Cincy.
But the timing of the message comes after the Bengals were down 17-3 going into the fourth quarter against the Vikings, with their playoff hopes potentially dwindling with every second.
Browning, filling in for injured star Joe Burrow, struggled through the first three quarters.
But in a quick turnaround, Browning led three fourth-quarter touchdown drives — throwing for two — to tie the game at 24-24 with 39 seconds left and sending things into overtime.
In the extra session, Browning found receiver Tyler Boyd on third-and-9 for a 44-yard gain that set up kicker Evan McPherson for the winning field goal.
The Bengals improved to 8-6, putting them back into the AFC playoff picture and in the 6th spot of the conference.
As for his personal stat line, Browning was 29-for-42 with 324 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
He starred in the fourth and IT, going 13-for-19 with 184 yards to bring the Bengals back.
The victory meant a lot to Browning, who revealed in a postgame press conference that getting cut from the Vikings in 2021 was “the s–tiest one” of his career.
Signed as an undrafted free agent, Browning was on the Vikings’ practice side in 2019 and 2020 before being cut in ’21.
“I think right after we made the field goal to win the game I screamed at a camera and said they never should’ve cut me,” Browning told reporters.