The Cincinnati Bengals slumped to their third successive loss without starting quarterback Joe Burrow last Sunday, and have responded by making a trade with one of their AFC North rivals.
Per multiple reports, the Bengals have traded for Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco. The Bengals have dealt a fifth-round pick to the Browns, who have sent back Flacco and a sixth-rounder in return.
With Burrow still on the sidelines with a turf toe injury that required surgery, the Bengals were thumped by the Detroit Lions in Week 5, their 37-24 home defeat following similarly heavy losses to the Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos with backup Jake Browning starting under center.
Browning’s time as the starter now appears to be over, with Flacco stepping in after being benched by the Browns last week.
Having started the first four games of the season for Cleveland, Flacco lost his starting job to rookie third-round pick Dillon Gabriel, who produced a decent performance in the Browns’ 21-17 loss to the Vikings in London on Sunday.
Flacco, 40, should be in a much better position to succeed with Cincinnati, where he will have the chance to throw to one of the NFL’s best receiver duos in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
A Super Bowl-winner with the Baltimore Ravens in the 2012 season, the Bengals will be Flacco’s seventh different NFL team.
His first game will come at Lambeau Field, with the Bengals set to face the Green Bay Packers on the road in Week 6 as they aim to stay in contention in the AFC North until Burrow’s return. The Bengals’ starter is unlikely to make his comeback until Week 16 at the earliest.
