The Cincinnati Bengals turned to their division rivals for a much-needed solution at quarterback, acquiring Joe Flacco in a trade with the Cleveland Browns, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Cincinnati will also receive a sixth-round draft pick while Cleveland landed a fifth-round pick in the trade, sources told Schefter.
The Bengals have been seeking long-term help under center since franchise quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a toe injury in Week 2. Jake Browning has struggled since replacing the injured Burrow, throwing eight interceptions over parts of four games, including three starts.
Flacco joins Cincinnati two days after the Bengals (2-3) lost their third straight game with Browning, who threw three more interceptions in Sunday’s 37-24 loss to the Detroit Lions. Cincinnati has been outscored, 113-37, during the three-game skid.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor was noncommittal when asked about Browning’s status as the starter, saying Sunday the organization was “going to look at all personnel to make sure we’re doing the right thing.” Taylor also admitted that speculation about Browning’s role was “fair” because of “the amount of turnovers that we had.”
The Bengals, who entered the season with a healthy Burrow and lofty expectations, now apparently will turn to the 40-year-old Flacco, who has a recent history of energizing offenses.
Flacco was named the Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year in 2023 after a prolific five-game stretch with the Browns, who went 4-1 over that stretch. The former Super Bowl MVP passed for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns after replacing the injured Deshaun Watson, leading Cleveland to an unlikely postseason berth.
Flacco also had a productive but shaky stretch last season with the Indianapolis Colts, where he replaced an injured Anthony Richardson. In eight games — six starts — with Indianapolis, Flacco completed 65.3% of his passes for 1,761 yards and 12 touchdowns.
The Browns brought back Flacco this past offseason to provide veteran leadership to a crowded quarterback room that also included rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. The 18-year veteran started Cleveland’s first four games this season before being replaced by Gabriel in last Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Flacco’s departure from Cleveland could open the door for Sanders to be elevated to the No. 2 quarterback spot behind Gabriel. Sanders has been Cleveland’s emergency third-string quarterback for the first five games of the season.