The Cincinnati Bengals have apparently seen enough of Jake Browning − to the point where they’ve accepted help from their longtime in-state rivals.
Cincy has agreed to a trade with the Cleveland Browns for former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. The Bengals will also obtain a sixth-round draft pick (originally owned by the Detroit Lions) while sending a fifth-rounder to Cleveland in exchange.
The deal will become official once Flacco completes a physical. Backup quarterback Brett Rypien was released in a corresponding move.
The deal lands two days after the Lions beat the Bengals 37-24 at Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati’s third consecutive defeat − all since QB1 Joe Burrow suffered a toe injury in Week 2 that required surgery and will likely keep him out at least another two months.
Browning, who did an exceptional job taking over when Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury midway through the 2023 campaign, has not risen to the occasion this time around, throwing eight interceptions in three-plus games. The Bengals haven’t even been competitive, their losses by an aggregate score of 113-37.
The mission awaiting Flacco, 40, is to keep Cincinnati afloat long enough to turn a relevant team back over to Burrow in the event he’s able to return in December. Now in his 18th season, Flacco has passed for 46,512 yards and 259 touchdowns during stints with five different franchises. He put together a standout playoff run for the Baltimore Ravens, who drafted him 18th overall in 2008, on their way to winning Super Bowl 47 to cap the 2012 campaign.
While Flacco isn’t a threat to leave the pocket, he has loads of experience and an arm with plenty of juice − one that should leverage the sizable offseason investment Cincinnati made in wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins earlier this year. Flacco has also long been a popular teammate and locker room presence, remaining a captain for the Browns last week even after he was benched for rookie Dillon Gabriel. Flacco’s willingness to give his receivers chances to make plays will result in interceptions, but he’ll now enjoy a far more capable corps of wideouts than he had in Cleveland.
The Bengals, a notoriously stingy franchise over the years, will only have to pay the prorated amount of Flacco’s $1.3 million base salary this season. He will become a free agent again next March.
Flacco’s departure also means rookie Shedeur Sanders will become the primary backup quarterback to fellow rookie Gabriel, who made his first NFL start Sunday in London. Gabriel had the Browns in position to win, but they gave up a touchdown in the final minute, losing 21-17 to the Minnesota Vikings.
Bengals QB depth chart
Joe Burrow (injured)
Joe Flacco (projected)
Jake Browning (projected)
Sean Clifford (practice squad)
Browns QB depth chart
Dillon Gabriel
Shedeur Sanders
Deshaun Watson (PUP list)
Bailey Zappe (practice squad)
Joe Flacco stats
2025: 1-3 record; 58.1% completion rate; 815 yards, 2 TDs; 6 INTs; 60.3 QB rating
Career: 116-95 record (including playoffs); 46,512 passing yards; 259 TDs; 168 INTs; 83.8 QB rating
