In a Week 2 win over the Jaguars, starting QB Joe Burrow suffered a significant toe injury. The Pro Bowler had to leave the game and Jake Browning took over as QB. Cincinnati won that game 31-27, but things have gone downhill since then.
The Bengals have lost three straight games with Browning as the starting QB. In that time, the team was defeated 113-37. Cincinnati lost 37-24 to the Lions in Week 4. Head coach Zac Taylor was non-committal on Jake Browning as the starter moving forward. On Tuesday, the Bengals traded with the Browns to acquire veteran QB Joe Flacco.
Joe Flacco is expected to start in Week 6 against the Packers
We have agreed to trade QB Joe Flacco to the Bengals
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 7, 2025
Ever since Joe Burrow went down in Week 2, the Bengals have been looking for QB help. Jake Browning started seven games for the Bengals in 2023. He felt comfortable transitioning from a backup role to immediate starter. Head coach Zac Taylor decided to go with Browning because he had experience with Cincinnati’s offense. Through four games and three starts in 2025, Jake Browning has thrown eight interceptions. That production simply wasn’t enough for the Bengals.
Ahead of their Week 6 matchup against the Packers, Cincinnati made a move at QB. The Bengals traded with the Browns to acquire Joe Flacco. The 40-year-old QB started the first four games of the 2025 season for Cleveland. Flacco was benched for rookie QB Dillon Gabriel in Week 5. Just a week later, Joe Flacco is a member of the Bengals. He now plays for three of the four teams in the AFC North.
Bengals trade for QB Joe Flacco. (via @RapSheet + @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/k9e5lG1awA
—NFL (@NFL) October 7, 2025
In three games with Jake Browning as the starter, the Bengals’ offense averaged 12.3 points per game. Without a 24-point performance in Week 5, that number would be much lower. Can Joe Flacco come in and revamp Cincinnati’s offense? That will be extremely difficult behind the Bengals’ undersized offensive line. In his four games with the Bengals in 2025, Jake Browning was sacked nine times.
Joe Flacco was sacked nine times in nine starts as a member of the Browns. While his mobility is limited at this stage of his career, Joe Flacco makes up for it with his arm. The veteran QB is expected to hyper-target Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins going forward. At 2-3, the Bengals’ season is far from over. They are just one win away from a .500 record. Going forward, the Bengals are expected to start Joe Flacco at QB.
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