One of the hottest stories in the NFL in the second half of the season has been the play of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning, who replaced Joe Burrow after he suffered a season-ending injury.

Since replacing Burrow against the Baltimore Ravens, Browning has gone 3-1 with two wins in overtime, placing the Bengals in the heat of the AFC playoff race.

Since going undrafted out of Washington, Browning spent time on the practice squads of the Minnesota Vikings and Bengals before earning the backup job this season in training camp.

This season, Browning has played in six games with four starts and shown the abilities he showed coming out of Folsom (Calif.) High School when, he was a highly rated prospect setting California and national prep records with Bengals teammate Jonah Williams.

Browning played solid in his first career start against the Steelers in a 10-16 loss but played even better in his next three starts, throwing five touchdowns with only two interceptions in wins over the Jaguars, Colts, and Vikings, the team that cut him just a few years ago.

Now, some are looking at Browning as a future starter in the league when his time in Cincinnati ends.

Until then, Browning and his girlfriend, Stephanie Niles, enjoy their time in the Queen City as family and friends travel to see Browning lead the Bengals.

In this exclusive one-on-one interview with Dave Lapham In The Trenches, presented by First Star Logistics, Browning talks about his NFL journey, prep, and college career, and play since taking over the Bengals offense. He also discusses teammate Joe Burrow's kindness in allowing his family to use his suite for home games and more.

Remember to participate in the First Star Logistics Giveaway each week the Bengals play. Visit First Star Logistics on X (Twitter) for details each week during the season. https://twitter.com/Firststarlog