The Cleveland Browns have traded former starting quarterback Joe Flacco to the AFC North Division rival Cincinnati Bengals, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported on Tuesday (October 7).
"The #Bengals are trading for Joe Flacco, per me and @TomPelissero," Rapoport wrote on his X account. "Just a wild turn of events. Cincy has been calling around for 48 hours. Now turn to Joe Flacco to keep their playoffs hopes alive. A stunner."
Flacco 40, threw for 815 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions on 93 of 160 passing, while leading the Browns to a 1-3 record through their first three games before being benched for rookie Dillon Gabriel days ahead of their Week 5 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London on Sunday (October 5). Cleveland selected Gabriel in the third-round of the 2025 NFL Draft and former University of Colorado standout Shedeur Sanders in the fifth-round.
"The fallout from today's surprise trade: #Bengals get a veteran QB in Joe Flacco, giving them options amidst Jake Browning's struggles #Browns get a higher draft pick, while opening the door for an all-rookie depth chart with Shedeur Sanders backing up Dillon Gabriel," Pelissero wrote on his X account.
Bengals starting quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a Grade 3 turf toe during the team's Week 2 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars and is expected to be out until at least December. Backup Jake Browning taking over in Burrow's absence and has gone 0-3 as a starter with757 yards, six touchdowns and eight interceptions on 80 of 124 passing in four total appearances.