The Bengals got their first look at quarterback Joe Flacco in a Cincinnati uniform during practice today.
Fans will have to get used to that sight.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor confirmed today that the 40-year-old Flacco will be the team’s starting quarterback this week against the Green Bay Packers.
Cincinnati traded a fifth-round pick in the NFL Draft to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for Flacco and a sixth-round pick. The former Super Bowl MVP was benched ahead of Week 5 and started rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel in his place in a 21-17 loss to Minnesota.
His arrival means he will take over for longtime backup Jake Browning, who had started the last three games for the Bengals in place of injured franchise quarterback Joe Burrow.
Browning went 0-3 as a starter for the Bengals this season. He completed 59 of 92 passes (64.1%) for 516 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions in those games.
It wasn’t Browning’s first time as the Bengals’ starter. He went 4-3 as a starter in 2023 in place of an injured Burrow and led the NFL in completion percentage at 70.4%.
Cincinnati decided to make a move and solidified the change within 48 hours. Flacco will be the presumed starter until Burrow potentially returns from injury later this year.
Flacco won’t have an easy outing for his first start as a Bengals quarterback. Cincinnati is on the road this week to take on the Packers, who just had their bye week and feature star pass rusher Micah Parsons.
This marks the third AFC North team Flacco has started at least one game for. He spent 11 years with the Baltimore Ravens and started the 2025 season with the Browns.