Following a third-straight uninspired performance from quarterback Jake Browning, the Cincinnati Bengals are making a trade to upgrade the position.In a move first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the Bengals have made a trade within the AFC North, acquiring Joe Flacco from the Cleveland Browns.Both the Bengals and Browns made it official Tuesday afternoon, sharing that the Bengals are sending a fifth-round pick to the Browns in exchange for the signal caller. Cincinnati is also receiving a sixth-round pick in the trade. “Joe is an experienced quarterback with a history of winning,” said Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. “He is a leader with a skill set that will fit our personnel well. He is a gifted passer with a strong arm, and we are excited to have him on our team.”Flacco started four games for the Browns this season, but was benched ahead of the Week 5 game in London for 2025 fourth-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel. In those four games, Flacc0 threw for a total of 815 yards (completing 93 of 160 pass attempts) for just two touchdowns and six interceptions. Over his last 17 starts, Flacco has thrown 23 interceptions, including seven multi-pick games and at least one in every game he’s started this season.It’s rare for the Bengals to trade with their in-state rivals, and is the first time Cincinnati has done so with the Browns since they returned to the NFL in 1999.The move comes as the Bengals weigh what to do at the quarterback position in the midst of a three-game losing streak.After losing Joe Burrow for at least three months due to a turf toe injury, the team turned to backup Jake Browning, who led a game-winning drive in that Week 2 outing against Jacksonville but has gone cold since.In his three starts, Browning has averaged 172 yards passing per game, totaling four touchdowns to five interceptions. He threw for just 125 yards in Week 4’s loss to Denver, the fewest in his NFL career in a game he has started.Browning’s status as the Bengals starter moving forward was put into question Monday, when head coach Zac Taylor, who had previously backed Browning as the Bengals starter, said the team was going to “see where it goes,” when it came to the direction moving forward, which begins Sunday at Green Bay.”Jake’s been very accountable for how the game went for him,” Taylor said of Browning’s performance on Sunday, where he threw three interceptions to accompany his three fourth quarter touchdowns. “I’ve got to be accountable for how the game went for me, as well. We will continue to progress here through the days.”Drafted in the first round by the Baltimore Ravens in 2008 out of Delaware, Flacco spent the first 11 years of his NFL career with the Ravens, winning 96 games and starting all 16 games each season.In the 2012 season, Flacco led the Ravens to the Super Bowl, defeating the San Francisco 49ers 34-31. Going 10-6 that season, Flacco threw for 3,817 yards and 22 touchdowns.From the 2009 to 2012 campaigns, Flacco threw for at least 20 touchdowns in every season. He set a career mark in 2014, throwing 27 touchdowns (to just 12 interceptions) while flirting with 4,000 passing yards (finishing with 3,986).He has not been a regular starting quarterback in the NFL since the 2017 season, his last year with the Ravens. However, he has made five or more starts four of the last seven seasons, entering the 2025 campaign. Since leaving the Ravens, Flacco has started for the Denver Broncos, New York Jets, Browns and Indianapolis Colts.From 2022 through 2024, Flacco threw for more than 1,000 yards in each season, starting four, five and six games, respectively.Flacco had a mini-career resurgence in 2023 with the Browns, leading the club to a 4-1 record from weeks 12-16 and throwing for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns to eight interceptions. The Browns offense was led by Flacco in the season opener against Cincinnati, where he threw for 290 yards and completed his passes at a 68.9% clip, adding a touchdown and two interceptions.His yardage and completion percentage were season highs. Since then, he’s averaged 175 yards per game and a 53.9% completion percentage, throwing just one touchdown to four interceptions.After Taylor’s comments Monday, it felt like a move was coming sooner rather than later. Earlier Tuesday, the Bengals released veteran quarterback Mike White from their practice squad. The Bengals also released QB Brett Rypien.It is unknown if Flacco will take the reigns for the Bengals in Week 6, when the Bengals go to Green Bay to take on the Packers in hopes of snapping a three-game losing streak.

CINCINNATI —

Following a third-straight uninspired performance from quarterback Jake Browning, the Cincinnati Bengals are making a trade to upgrade the position.

In a move first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the Bengals have made a trade within the AFC North, acquiring Joe Flacco from the Cleveland Browns.

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Both the Bengals and Browns made it official Tuesday afternoon, sharing that the Bengals are sending a fifth-round pick to the Browns in exchange for the signal caller. Cincinnati is also receiving a sixth-round pick in the trade.

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“Joe is an experienced quarterback with a history of winning,” said Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. “He is a leader with a skill set that will fit our personnel well. He is a gifted passer with a strong arm, and we are excited to have him on our team.”

Flacco started four games for the Browns this season, but was benched ahead of the Week 5 game in London for 2025 fourth-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel.

In those four games, Flacc0 threw for a total of 815 yards (completing 93 of 160 pass attempts) for just two touchdowns and six interceptions. Over his last 17 starts, Flacco has thrown 23 interceptions, including seven multi-pick games and at least one in every game he’s started this season.

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Bengals QB Joe Flacco. That will take a moment to get used to.

The numbers on Cincinnati’s plan C at QB:

🏈 10-22 as starter since 2019
🏈 7.9 YDS/attempt in 2023 (4-1 in CLE)
🏈 Will be oldest QB to start a game in franchise history

Details: https://t.co/xlSwKgAXQQ pic.twitter.com/3xwPcMDpWD

— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) October 7, 2025

It’s rare for the Bengals to trade with their in-state rivals, and is the first time Cincinnati has done so with the Browns since they returned to the NFL in 1999.

The move comes as the Bengals weigh what to do at the quarterback position in the midst of a three-game losing streak.

After losing Joe Burrow for at least three months due to a turf toe injury, the team turned to backup Jake Browning, who led a game-winning drive in that Week 2 outing against Jacksonville but has gone cold since.

In his three starts, Browning has averaged 172 yards passing per game, totaling four touchdowns to five interceptions. He threw for just 125 yards in Week 4’s loss to Denver, the fewest in his NFL career in a game he has started.

Browning’s status as the Bengals starter moving forward was put into question Monday, when head coach Zac Taylor, who had previously backed Browning as the Bengals starter, said the team was going to “see where it goes,” when it came to the direction moving forward, which begins Sunday at Green Bay.

“Jake’s been very accountable for how the game went for him,” Taylor said of Browning’s performance on Sunday, where he threw three interceptions to accompany his three fourth quarter touchdowns. “I’ve got to be accountable for how the game went for me, as well. We will continue to progress here through the days.”

Drafted in the first round by the Baltimore Ravens in 2008 out of Delaware, Flacco spent the first 11 years of his NFL career with the Ravens, winning 96 games and starting all 16 games each season.

In the 2012 season, Flacco led the Ravens to the Super Bowl, defeating the San Francisco 49ers 34-31. Going 10-6 that season, Flacco threw for 3,817 yards and 22 touchdowns.

From the 2009 to 2012 campaigns, Flacco threw for at least 20 touchdowns in every season. He set a career mark in 2014, throwing 27 touchdowns (to just 12 interceptions) while flirting with 4,000 passing yards (finishing with 3,986).

He has not been a regular starting quarterback in the NFL since the 2017 season, his last year with the Ravens. However, he has made five or more starts four of the last seven seasons, entering the 2025 campaign.

Since leaving the Ravens, Flacco has started for the Denver Broncos, New York Jets, Browns and Indianapolis Colts.

From 2022 through 2024, Flacco threw for more than 1,000 yards in each season, starting four, five and six games, respectively.

Flacco had a mini-career resurgence in 2023 with the Browns, leading the club to a 4-1 record from weeks 12-16 and throwing for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns to eight interceptions.

The Browns offense was led by Flacco in the season opener against Cincinnati, where he threw for 290 yards and completed his passes at a 68.9% clip, adding a touchdown and two interceptions.

His yardage and completion percentage were season highs. Since then, he’s averaged 175 yards per game and a 53.9% completion percentage, throwing just one touchdown to four interceptions.

After Taylor’s comments Monday, it felt like a move was coming sooner rather than later. Earlier Tuesday, the Bengals released veteran quarterback Mike White from their practice squad. The Bengals also released QB Brett Rypien.

It is unknown if Flacco will take the reigns for the Bengals in Week 6, when the Bengals go to Green Bay to take on the Packers in hopes of snapping a three-game losing streak.