Joe Flacco's attempt to guide the Bengals across troubled waters may be interrupted in Week 9.
The quarterback is dealing with an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder and it is uncertain if he'll play on Sunday against the Chicago Bears, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Wednesday.
Flacco went to the locker room late during Cincinnati's Week 8 loss to the New York Jets with the injury before returning late in the contest without missing a snap. Coach Zac Taylor described Flacco's status as day to day on Tuesday.
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Jake Browning would start if Flacco cannot go. Browning began the season as Joe Burrow backup and started three games after Burrow suffered a toe injury this season before the Bengals traded for Flacco on Oct. 7.
A known expert in turning seemingly doomed playoff contenders back toward the postseason, Flacco injected new life into the Bengals by leading them to a thrilling 33-31 win over the Steelers in his second start for Cincinnati, just 10 days after the Cleveland Browns dealt him to the opposite corner of Ohio. Overall, however, Flacco hasn't been able to overcome the Bengals' catastrophic defensive breakdowns, which snowballed into an avalanche of Jets fourth-quarter points in their Week 8 defeat.
If Flacco cannot go Sunday, the road will seemingly only become more difficult with Browning in the lineup. Although he threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns in his final outing as Cincinnati's starter this season, Browning struggled mightily with turnovers, throwing eight interceptions in four appearances. If there's one thing these Bengals cannot afford, it's extra possessions for opposing offenses.
We'll see if Flacco's status improves before the Bengals host the Bears on Sunday.