CINCINNATI, O.H.— Cleveland Browns veteran quarterback Joe Flacco — who spent the 2020-2022 seasons with the New York Jets — is reportedly being traded to the Cincinnati Bengals, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
As part of the deal, the Browns will send a sixth-round pick to the Bengals in exchange for a fifth-round selection.
Flacco, the Super Bowl XLVII MVP who spent the first 11 seasons of his career with the Baltimore Ravens and has since suited up for three different teams, will now take over as QB1 in Cincinnati until franchise cornerstone Joe Burrow returns from injury.
After opening the season with two straight wins, the Bengals have struggled mightily since losing Burrow to injury in Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, dropping three straight games—including a humbling 48-10 defeat to the Minnesota Vikings.
If the Bengals hope to keep their playoff aspirations alive, it’s clear Jake Browning—Burrow’s initial replacement—hasn’t been the answer, managing a lowly 70.7 passer rating with 516 passing yards, four touchdowns, and five interceptions during Cincinnati’s recent skid.
Flacco’s post-Baltimore career has produced mixed results. While he impressed with a 4-1 record leading the Browns in 2023, Jets fans will remember his tough stint in the Meadowlands, where he went just 1-11 as Gang Green’s signal-caller.
As fate would have it, all signs suggest Burrow won’t be healthy in time for the Oct. 26 matchup between the Jets and Bengals—setting the stage for Flacco to face his former team and seek a bit of revenge in Cincinnati.
Flacco is set to make his Bengals debut when Cincinnati takes on Green Bay on Oct. 12 at 4:25 p.m. EST.
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