Bengals to start Joe Flacco in Week 6 just days after trading for veteran QB
After 18 years in the NFL, quarterback Joe Flacco knows how to get ready for a game quickly. At least, that's what the Cincinnati Bengals are hoping. Despite acquiring Flacco on Tuesday, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor announced the newly acquired quarterback will start for the team in Week 6.
Taylor made the move official Wednesday, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Bengals HC Zac Taylor said Joe Flacco will start Sunday at Green Bay.
- Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 8, 2025
While it's not necessarily surprising Flacco will start for the Bengals, pushing him into a starting role so soon does come as a shock. Flacco will only have a few days to learn the team's entire offense and play calls before taking on Micah Parsons and the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
The Bengals will give Flacco all the reps during practice this week in preparation for the start.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor on QB Joe Flacco: "We'll start him this week. So he'll take all the reps."
- Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) October 8, 2025
Taylor on Flacco's game: "Very comfortable with his style, concepts he's been good at." Said there's a lot more carryover than was anticipated.
The Bengals traded for the 40-year-old Flacco on Tuesday after backup quarterback Jake Browning faltered in three starts. Browning - who took over as the team's starter after Joe Burrow went down with a toe injury - threw six touchdowns against eight interceptions in four games this season. He's 0-3 in his starts.
With the Bengals' season slipping away, the team opted to trade for Flacco to try and keep things afloat. Given the talent on Cincinnati's offense - the team has Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Chase Brown - the Bengals are making a bet that the team can put up points with a steady veteran under center.
[Get more Bengals news: Cincinnati team feed]
If Flacco can keep the Bengals competitive, it's possible the team could still make the playoffs, giving Burrow more time to get back on the field. Burrow was originally expected to miss at least three monthsdue to toe surgery. That timeline does leave the door open for Burrow to return to the team before the end of the regular season.
Taylor did not provide any updates on Burrow's recovery Wednesday.
Any update on Burrow's recovery? Is this trade and his timeline connected?
- Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) October 8, 2025
Zac Taylor: "I do not have any update on Burrow."
With Burrow sidelined - and Browning demoted - it will be up to Flacco to will the Bengals to a victory over the Packers in Week 6. Green Bay should be a familiar opponent for Flacco. The veteran started - and won - a game against the Packers back in Week 3, when he was still with the Cleveland Browns. He'll have an opportunity to beat the Packers for a second time this season - this time with a different franchise - Sunday.
Flacco is a long way from his prime, but has had a nice second act to his career over the past three seasons. After rallying the Browns to the playoffs in 2023, Flacco proved to be the best quarterback on the Indianapolis Colts' roster in 2024.
After two seasons of steady production, Flacco returned to the Browns to open the season as the team's starter. He struggled in his four starts, tossing two touchdowns against six interceptions, before being benched in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel.
With the Browns committed to Gabriel, the team felt comfortable trading Flacco to the division-rival Bengals on Tuesday.