The Cincinnati Bengals entered Week 6 at 2-3, trailing the Pittsburgh Steelers by one game in the AFC North standings.
With Joe Burrow sidelined and backup Jake Browning struggling through three consecutive weeks, Cincinnati needed a veteran solution at quarterback.
The Bengals found their answer in an unexpected place, acquiring former rival Joe Flacco from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for draft picks.
The move caught the league off guard when Andrew Siciliano broke the news during Zac Taylor’s press conference.
Flacco, who had signed with Cincinnati just days earlier, would start against the Green Bay Packers in Week 6.
“Joe Flacco will start Sunday for the Bengals, per Zac Taylor,” Siciliano wrote on X.
Joe Flacco will start Sunday for the Bengals, per Zac Taylor.
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) October 8, 2025
For a quarterback who barely had time to learn the playbook, the assignment represents a significant challenge.
Still, his veteran presence offers something Browning couldn’t provide during his three-week stretch.
Cincinnati faces a difficult matchup against Green Bay, which enters off a bye week with extra time to prepare.
The Packers have already faced Flacco once this season, falling 13-10 to his Browns team on a last-second field goal.
Zac Taylor expressed confidence in the fit, saying Flacco’s style aligns with Cincinnati’s offensive approach. The Bengals now have the only quarterback who has beaten Green Bay this season.
Through four starts with Cleveland, Flacco threw for 815 yards with two touchdowns and six interceptions.
At 40 years old, he brings experience and composure that Taylor believes can stabilize the offense.
While Cincinnati’s defense lacks Cleveland’s depth, Flacco gives them a steady hand in a game they need to win.
NEXT: Stats Show How Bengals Defense Is Quietly Turning The Page