Bengals Shake Up Quarterback Roster with Joe Flacco Acquisition

In a surprising move, the Cincinnati Bengals have decided to acquire veteran quarterback Joe Flacco from the Cleveland Browns just days after head coach Zac Taylor hinted at a potential change at the quarterback position due to Jake Browning's performance struggles. The trade, first reported by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, sees the Bengals sending a 2026 fifth-round draft pick to the Browns in exchange for Flacco and a 2026 sixth-round pick.

Flacco is expected to step in and potentially start this Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. This trade marks a historic moment as it is the first time the two teams have executed a trade with one another. Notably, Flacco has experience game-planning for the Packers' defense, having guided the Browns to a 13-10 upset victory earlier this season.

The Bengals' decision comes in light of Browning's difficult start, leading to an 0-3 record as a starter. In four games, Browning has managed to throw for 757 yards, accumulating six touchdowns but also tossing eight interceptions, which places him second in the league for interceptions thrown this season. His interception rate of 6.5 percent is the highest among all NFL quarterbacks, raising concerns about the team's offensive reliability as they await the return of starter Joe Burrow.

After Cincinnati's recent 37-24 loss to the Detroit Lions, Taylor was reticent about naming Browning as the starting quarterback moving forward, stating, "We'll see where it goes." This uncertainty has prompted the Bengals to bring in Flacco, who will need to quickly adapt to his new teammates and the Bengals' system, with practices set to resume on Wednesday.

Flacco previously began the season as the starting quarterback in Cleveland, where he threw for 815 yards with two touchdowns and six interceptions over four games. His benching in favor of Dillon Gabriel following a 1-3 start reflects the Browns' intention to shift their quarterback strategy, leaving Flacco to find a new home in Cincinnati.

The Bengals, losing three straight games after a promising 2-0 start, will be looking for a spark as they hope Flacco can provide the necessary stability at the quarterback position while they continue to navigate the challenges of the season.