The Cincinnati Bengals have͏ taken a bold step in reshaping their quarterback situation as ͏the ͏2025 season enters a critical stretch. With ͏their playoff hopes still alive but slipping, a͏ major͏ decision from head coach Zac͏ Taylor has set the stage for͏ a pivotal moment in the franchise’s campaign, ͏one that could ͏alter their trajectory in ͏the weeks ͏to ͏come.
Will Joe Flacco’s Arrival Signal a Shift in the Bengals’ Quarterback Plans?
The Bengals announced ͏on October 8 that veteran quarterback Joe Fl͏acco, acquired a͏ day earlier in a trade with the Cleveland Browns, ͏is expected͏ to start in Week 6 against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
“He’s already spent͏ a lot of time meeting with us͏, ͏getting up to speed, so I feel really good ͏about where͏ ͏he͏’͏s at,” Taylor told reporters.
This move comes as the Bengals continue to search ͏for stability͏ under͏ center after Joe Burrow suffered a ͏long-term injury. Backup Jake Browning has struggled to command the offense,͏ leaving the team in͏ ͏need of a more experienced option.
Zac Taylor says Joe Flacco will start vs. GB pic.twitter.com/R3CJGx0oML
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) October 8, 2025
According to PFSN’s Brandon Astreicher, the Bengals had not firmly decided on Jake Browning’s role for the upcoming week, and with Flacco now in the mix, his future as the starter seems increasingly unclear.
The trade details reflect both teams’ changing priorities. According to PFSN, Cleveland sent Flacco and a sixth-round pick to the Bengals in exchange for a fifth-round selection. The Browns, who recently benched Flacco, are moving forward with rookie Dillon Gabriel as their starter while potentially elevating Shedeur Sanders to the QB2 role.
While Flacco struggled in his first four games with Cleveland, his experience remains valuable. At 40, he ranks 35th in PFSN’s Quarterback Impact score with a 53.7 grade, ahead of only two players, including Browning.
Even if the upgrade is modest, the Bengals hope the veteran’s presence will stabilize their offense and reignite an inconsistent passing attack.
Flacco will now have the chance to work with one of the NFL’s most talented receiving duos in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Chase, who was in the running for Offensive Player of the Year voting in 2024, has experienced highs and lows this season. The Bengals believe that a steadier quarterback could bring out his best more consistently.
The implications of this trade stretch beyond Week 6. A potential ͏Week ͏7 matchup could see͏ Flacco͏ face ͏41-year-old ͏Aaron Rodgers,͏ while a Thanksgiving clash͏ might reunite him with͏ the Baltimore Ravens, the team where he spent ͏11 ͏seasons and earned Super Bowl MVP honors.
For the Benegals, currently 2͏-3 and chasing the AFC North lead, this͏ is a calculated risk ͏with significant upside. As NFL insider Adam Schefter noted on X, this is “the first trade between the Browns and Bengals since Cleveland returned to the NFL in 1999.” It’s a rare move that could define the Bengals’ season.