Bengals QB Jake Browning of Folsom fame one of 16 Sacramento-area products on NFL rosters

Jake Browning can throw the football, tight spirals and on the money.

Always has, since his youth days in Folsom in shoulder pads and a helmet, and right up to now as a man getting a lot of first-string practice reps for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Browning could get his first career start Monday night against the visiting Los Angeles Rams if starter Joe Burrow can’t shake a nagging calf injury and isn’t cleared to go. Browning is in his fifth NFL season, including time as a practice-squad player. He pondered life after football in the offseason, wondering if his playing days may be coming to a close, but he isn’t finished yet.

Browning, 27, saw his first career NFL regular-season action last week, late in a 24-3 loss to the Cleveland Browns, as Burrow was hobbled by the calf strain. Browning is one of 16 Sacramento-area football products who entered this season on NFL rosters. They made the cut, which isn’t easy considering some 100 players are in each NFL summer camp and rosters have to be pared down to 53 before the season opener.

“The guy can really sling it,” Bengals receiver Tee Higgins told Cincinnati media on Thursday. “He made good reads. He’s a baller. Just a guy who goes out there and does the job well.”

Browning set prep records

Some guys were great in high school and never slowed down. That was Browning. He lit up scoreboards while at Folsom High School, throwing a regional-record 10 touchdown passes in his first start as a sophomore

Browning set a national high school record with 91 touchdown passes as a senior in 2014 for a Folsom team that went 16-0 with a state-record 16 running-clock scores under co-coaches Kris Richardson and Troy Taylor. That remains the finest team in regional history with a nod to the 1975 Cordova team that went 11-0 and finished ranked No. 1 in one national poll.

Browning set a national mark without even knowing it by tossing 229 career touchdowns over three varsity seasons, and he set state records with 16,775 career yards. His prep teammates included Jonah Williams, a starting tackle for the Bengals, and Josiah Deguara, a tight end with the Green Bay Packers.

Browning is the winningest quarterback in the history of the Pac-12 with 39 victories while leading the Washington Huskies. As a four-year starter under another locally grown product in coach Chris Petersen (Yuba City, Sacramento City College, UC Davis), Browning passed for 12,292 yards and 84 touchdowns while in the Pacific Northwest.

Browning went undrafted in the seven-round 2019 NFL draft but signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Vikings, where he spent three seasons on the practice squad before signing with the Bengals. He has completed one NFL regular-season pass, against Cleveland last week. He completed 32 of 45 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown in the 2023 preseason with Cincinnati.

His time has come.

“He deserves a shot!” Taylor, now in his first year as head coach at Stanford, wrote in a text to The Bee. “I can’t wait.”

Said Richardson, the Sacramento State assistant head coach, on ever doubting the drive or Browning: “Never! Ultimate pro. He will be extremely well prepared. Incredible team guy that will distribute the ball to the playmakers and has the ability to extend plays with his athletic ability and pocket presence.”

15 more locals on NFL rosters

A peek at the other Sacramento-area football players who started this season on active NFL rosters:

Arik Armstead, Pleasant Grove High School, San Francisco 49ers

Big A has been an anchor on the defensive line since his first-round selection out of Oregon in 2015. He is a team captain who is big on giving back to his community, and he has on multiple occasions been nominated for NFL Man of the Year honors.

Josiah Deguara, Folsom, Green Bay Packers

Lightly recruited as a prep, Deguara starred at the University of Cincinnati and is a mainstay at tight end since his 2020 third-round draft selection. He overcame an ACL knee injury suffered his rookie season.

Elijah Dotson, Antelope, LA Chargers

A 2,000-yard rusher for the Titans as a prep, the man who goes by “Dot” starred at Sacramento State and Northern Colorado. He was ecstatic in making the Chargers roster as an undrafted rookie free agent this season.

Ross Dwelley, Oak Ridge, San Francisco 49ers

After nearly quitting football as a prep, Dwelley starred at tight end at the University of San Diego, where he earned a degree in industrial systems engineering, and he’s been a reliable cog for the 49ers since 2018.

Carl Granderson, Grant, New Orleans Saints

Relentless in his defensive end/linebacker pursuit of quarterbacks since his Pacer-4-life days, Granderson is still in hot pursuit of ball carriers. He signed with the Saints as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2019 after starring at Wyoming.

Kahlef Hailassie, Cosumnes Oaks, Cleveland Browns

A three-star prep, Hailassie played defensive back at Oregon and transferred to Western Kentucky to cover receivers. He signed as an undrafted free agent with Kansas City before signing with the Browns.

D.J. Johnson, Burbank, Carolina Panthers

The pride of 3500 Florin Road, home of the Burbank Titans, Johnson played multiple positions at Miami and Oregon, including tight end and linebacker. He is a 6-foot-4, 260-pound linebacker load, picked in the third round of the 2023 draft.

Taron Johnson, Sheldon, Buffalo Bills

Lightly recruited out of high school, Johnson starred as a defensive back with Weber State of the Big Sky Conference and has been a Bills mainstay in the secondary since 2018, when he was drafted in the fourth round.

Jordan Kunaszyk, Roseville, Cleveland Browns

The linebacker led the state in tackles at American River and led Cal in stops. He signed as an undrafted free agent with Carolina in 2010, spent time with Washington and landed with the Browns in 2022. He was placed on injured reserve last month with a knee injury.

Kolton Miller, Roseville, Las Vegas Raiders

A towering left tackle at 6-foot-9 as a prep and at UCLA, Miller was a late bloomer who really bloomed. He was a first-round pick of the Raiders in 2018 and has been a regular in the trenches ever since.

Stone Smartt, Del Oro, LA Chargers

A quarterback star who led his prep team to CIF state title game appearances in 2015 and 2016, winning one, Smartt switched to tight end in college at Old Dominion and found his way with the Chargers the last two seasons.

Shaq Thompson, Grant, Carolina Panthers

A first-round pick at linebacker after starring at Grant as The Bee’s Player of the Decade for the 2010s and then with Washington, Thompson has been lauded for his community work and team leadership abilities. He had surgery on Tuesday to repair a broken fibula and will likely miss the remainder of the season.

Jonah Williams, Folsom, Cincinnati Bengals

Quite possibly the most physically dominant lineman, if not player, in Sacramento-area prep history, Williams starred in the trenches at Alabama and has started on the offensive line since being selected 11th overall in the 2019 draft. He started in the Super Bowl following the 2021 season.

Ahkello Witherspoon, Christian Brothers, LA Rams

The classic late bloomer who grew (and grew) into a force at cornerback while at Sacramento City College and Colorado, Witherspoon has been playing in the secondary in the NFL since 2017. His first NFL stint was with the 49ers after the club drafted him in the third round of the 2017 draft.

▪ Ian Book of Oak Ridge and Notre Dame quarterback fame was last week signed by the New England Patriots to their practice squad. He was a fourth-round pick of the Saints in 2021.