The Cincinnati Bengals are adding another quarterback.
And it comes via one of the NFL’s rarest feats, the intradivisional trade.
After losing Joe Burrow to a turf toe injury that required surgery, the Bengals turned to backup Jake Browning to try to right the ship. But that experiment has largely failed, and on the backs of a three-interception outing that saw Ja’Marr Chase record more tackles after interceptions (three) than touchdown receptions (two), Cincinnati is adding a quarterback.
Per multiple reports, the Cleveland Browns are trading the veteran quarterback to the Bengals, not only keeping Flacco within the state of Ohio, but keeping him inside the AFC North.
The sixth-rounder going to the Bengals is Detroit’s pick.
The veteran was benched after a two-interception performance of his own, as the Cleveland Browns turned to rookie Dillon Gabriel ahead of their Week 5 contest against the Minnesota Vikings in London. While the Browns lost that game, Gabriel completed 19-of-33 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns and, perhaps more importantly, did not throw an interception.
After Browning’s three-interception game against the Detroit Lions, which the Bengals lost 37-24, head coach Zac Taylor would not commit to the backup as the team’s starter moving forward.
Now we might know the reason why.
On the season, Flacco has completed 58.1% of his passes for 815 yards, two touchdowns, and six interceptions.
Yet he still might be an upgrade to the current quarterback room in Cincinnati.
