With Joe Flacco’s status still up in the air for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears, the Cincinnati Bengals are once again navigating uncertainty at quarterback. The team, sitting at 3-5 and clinging to playoff hopes, has leaned on the veteran’s experience since acquiring him from the Cleveland Browns in the rare intra-division trade.
Joe Flacco’s Status Looms Large as Bengals Fight to Stay in Playoff Hunt
Flacco is battling an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder, an injury sustained during last week’s 39-38 loss to the New York Jets. He briefly exited the game before returning to lead a late scoring drive. While he was held out of Wednesday’s practice, Flacco was spotted participating in Thursday’s session, a sign that he may be trending in the right direction.
Head Coach Zac Taylor previously confirmed Flacco with a “very painful” AC joint injury, but said the 40-year-old quarterback has been pushing to stay on the field.
“If anybody in the league can get by with minimal reps right now, it’s him,” Taylor said on Wednesday. “He wants to play in the game. So, kudos to him, man. He’s been here three weeks. He wants to play. Hate speaking for him, but that’s what he’s told me. We’ll have to work through the week to see if [he’s] able to do that. It’s a throwing shoulder. It’s painful.”
In three starts with Cincinnati, Flacco has thrown for 784 yards and seven touchdowns without an interception, completing 64.3 percent of his passes. His steady play has helped stabilize the Bengals’ offense in Joe Burrow’s absence and kept the team competitive in a crowded AFC playoff picture.
Still, the Bengals’ offense ranks 24th in the league with a PFSN Offense Impact Score of 70.6, reflecting their season-long inconsistency, limited rushing production, and reliance on short-term quarterback solutions. Flacco’s emergence has helped raise that mark slightly, but the margin for error remains thin as the schedule intensifies.
With the Bengals sitting just outside the Wild Card race, every game carries weight. A win over Chicago would keep Cincinnati within striking distance of the AFC North leaders and bolster its postseason chances heading into a tough stretch that includes matchups with the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots.
If Flacco is unable to go, Jake Browning would likely return to the starting role. Browning appeared in four games earlier this season, throwing for 757 yards, six touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Rookie Sean Clifford remains on the practice squad as emergency depth and would likely be elevated if Flacco is ruled out.