The Bengals of Cincinnati turned to their division competitors for an essential solution at the quarter-rear, acquiring Joe Flacco in a trade with the Browns of Cleveland, sources told Adam Schefter in ESPN.
Cincinnati will also receive a sixth round draft choice while Cleveland has won a fifth trade choice in the trade, Schefter sources said.
Bengals have requested long-term help under the center since the Joe Burrow franchise quarterrier suffered an injury to the toes during week 2. Jake Browning had struggled since his replacement of the injured burrow, launching eight interceptions on games of four games.
Flacco joined Cincinnati two days after the Bengals (2-3) lost their third consecutive match with Browning, who launched three other interceptions during the defeat of 37-24 on Sunday against the Lions of Detroit. Cincinnati was ahead of 113-37 during the three-game skid.
Bengal coach Zac Taylor was not a committee when he was asked for Browning status as a starter, saying that on Sunday that the organization “was going to watch all the staff to make sure we do the right thing”. Taylor also admitted that speculation on the role of Browning was “correct” due to “the quantity of turnover we had”.
Bengals, which have entered the season with a healthy burrow and high expectations, will seek 40 -year -old Flacco, which has a recent history of energy offenses.
Flacco was appointed return player of the Associated Press year in 2023 after a prolific trunction of five games with the Browns, which went 4-1 on this section. The former Super Bowl MVP passed for 1,616 yards and 13 affected after replacing the injured Deshaun Watson, leading Cleveland to an improbable place in the playoffs.
Flacco also had a productive section but trembling last season with the Indianapolis colts, where he replaced an injured Anthony Richardson. In eight games – six departures – with Indianapolis, Flacco completed 65.3% of its passes for 1761 yards and 12 affected.
The Browns brought back Flacco during the offseason to provide veterans leaders to a congested quarter room which also included the Dillon Gabriel and Sheder Sanders recruits. The 18 -year -old veteran started the first four games of Cleveland this season before being replaced by Gabriel during last Sunday’s defeat against the Minnesota Vikings.
The departure of Flacco de Cleveland could open the door so that Sanders is raised in place of Quart-Arrière n ° 2 behind Gabriel. Sanders was a quarter of the third Cleveland emergency channel for the first five games of the season.
