The Cincinnati Bengals made a bold move to stabilize their quarterback situation, acquiring veteran Joe Flacco from the Cleveland Browns in a rare in-division trade on Tuesday.
Cincinnati also received a 2026 sixth-round pick, while sending Cleveland a 2026 fifth-round pick in return.
The trade, announced Tuesday, comes amid the Bengals’ three-game skid and offensive struggles without Joe Burrow, who remains sidelined after toe surgery.
Bengals HC Zac Taylor said Joe Flacco will start Sunday at Green Bay.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 8, 2025
Bengals Trade for Joe Flacco, Name Veteran Starter vs. Packers
Head coach Zac Taylor confirmed that Flacco, 40, will start Sunday’s matchup against the Green Bay Packers, saying, “Joe is an experienced quarterback with a history of winning. He is a leader with a skill set that will fit our personnel well.”
The move marks Flacco’s fifth AFC team and his second within the North division, having previously starred for the Baltimore Ravens. His veteran presence offers a low-risk, high-upside solution for a Bengals team still clinging to postseason hopes.
Putting 40-year-old Joe Flacco behind that offensive line is full blown elder abuse https://t.co/xWdKhL5Y9u
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) October 7, 2025
Flacco’s stint in Cleveland was brief but eventful. He started the first four games of the season, throwing for 815 yards and two touchdowns before being replaced by rookie Dillon Gabriel.
His departure opens the door for Shedeur Sanders to serve as the Browns’ No. 2 quarterback. Meanwhile, in Cincinnati, Flacco reunites with a familiar AFC North rivalry, as the Bengals face the Ravens twice more this season.
If he can deliver immediate results against Green Bay, Flacco could once again turn a struggling team into a late-season contender, something he’s done more than once in his 17-year career.
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