The Cincinnati Bengals fan base may be getting some very dangerous flashbacks. After Joe Flacco remedied their quarterback play after a disastrous stint from Jake Browning, they finally had hope that the season wouldn’t be completely wasted.
Unfortunately, even as good as Flacco was, a consistently brutal defense limited them to just one more victory after Week 2. Now, though, they might have lost that safety net of offense as well.
What Happened to Joe Flacco?
Despite Joe Burrow practicing throughout the week, head coach Zac Taylor opted to keep Flacco in the lineup for one more game. With Ja’Marr Chase suspended for the encounter, it was going to be an uphill battle for the Bengals.
Unfortunately, that proved to be too much for the team to overcome, as they trailed 23-13 in the fourth quarter. Then, things took a turn for the worse as he tried to throw a pass, and his finger was caught up on a defensive lineman.
Joe Flacco #bengals
Injures his index or middle finger on his throwing hand this throw. pic.twitter.com/rn8SbYXm2m
— Tom Christ, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT (@FantasyInjuryT) November 23, 2025
After being questionable for the game with a shoulder injury throughout the week, he had to be taken out of the game. In his place, Browning came back under center, but it was short-lived, as Flacco slugged it out and came back in soon after.
He had a chance to be a hero for the Bengals on the day, as they tried to lead a game-winning touchdown drive in the final two minutes. Unfortunately, they could not get it done, and a turnover on downs effectively ended the contest.
Ranked 29th on PFSN’s QB Impact, his numbers were unfortunately negatively impacted by the work he’d done with the Cleveland Browns. Since coming over to Cincinnati, Flacco has been playing markedly better.
Even though it hasn’t resulted in wins, the team has been in most of their encounters, giving hope for when they get Joe Burrow back in the lineup. Unfortunately, a 3-8 record now might have put them too far away from potentially getting back in the playoff race.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.Â
