Veteran QB Flacco Joins Bengals After Burrow's Injury Setback

In a devastating blow to the Cincinnati Bengals' 2025 NFL season, star quarterback Joe Burrow went down with a toe injury in Week 2, sidelining him for at least the next 3 months. The team had hoped backup Jake Browning could step up, but the offense faltered without Burrow under center.

Facing a significant setback, the Bengals decided to make a move ahead of the trade deadline, acquiring 40-year-old veteran quarterback Joe Flacco from their division rivals, the Cleveland Browns. Flacco, who has proven his worth throughout his NFL career, now has the opportunity to lead the Bengals' offense until Burrow can return to the field.

Despite his advanced age, Flacco remains confident in his abilities, stating that he still feels he has a lot to offer a football team. "I don't want to take [playing in the NFL] for granted," he said. "I still feel like I can play the game at a high level, and I want to be able to look at myself in the mirror when I'm 50 years old and be able to say that I gave it everything I had."

The Bengals have wasted no time in making Flacco their starting quarterback, with head coach Zac Taylor tabbing him to lead the team in their upcoming Week 6 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. While Flacco's recent numbers with the Browns may not have been impressive, the Bengals are hoping he can find success with the talented offensive weapons at his disposal, including Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.