The Cincinnati Bengals have made a significant move to address their quarterback situation by acquiring Joe Flacco from the Cleveland Browns, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. As part of the trade agreement, the Bengals will also receive a sixth-round draft pick, while the Browns will secure a fifth-round selection. This transaction comes at a critical juncture for Cincinnati, which has been struggling since Joe Burrow sustained a toe injury in Week 2.
Cincinnati’s quarterback woes were underscored by the performance of Jake Browning, who has thrown eight interceptions over four games, including three starts. The Bengals have lost their last three matches, most recently suffering a 37-24 defeat against the Detroit Lions, where Browning added three more interceptions to his tally. The team’s overall scoring during this three-game stretch has been alarming, with a 113-37 deficit.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor has been deliberating on Browning’s status as the starting quarterback, acknowledging that the organization’s current personnel decisions need careful consideration. Taylor expressed that speculation regarding Browning’s role was legitimate, given the “amount of turnovers that we had.”
With high expectations entering the season, the Bengals are now looking to Flacco, a seasoned veteran at 40 years of age. Flacco previously demonstrated his ability to rejuvenate offenses, notably winning the Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year award in 2023. During a five-game stretch with the Browns, he led the team to a 4-1 record, throwing for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns after stepping in for an injured Deshaun Watson.
Flacco’s journey also includes a productive stint with the Indianapolis Colts last season, where he completed 65.3% of his passes, amassing 1,761 yards and 12 touchdowns across eight games, with six starts. The Browns had brought him back this offseason to provide veteran insight to a quarterback room that included rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
His departure from Cleveland opens the possibility for Sanders to move into a more prominent role as the No. 2 quarterback behind Gabriel. Sanders had been serving as the emergency third-string quarterback for the first five games of the season.
The addition of Flacco signals a proactive approach by the Bengals in a season that has not gone as planned. With Burrow’s future uncertain, the team hopes Flacco can bring stability as they aim to turn their fortunes around.
