The Cincinnati Bengals are having a disastrous season in the NFL so far. Following Joe Burrow’s injury, the franchise has now made a move in the trade market and signed a new quarterback.

The Cincinnati Bengals are leaving no stone unturned at the most important position: the Bengals are trading for quarterback Joe Flacco from the Cleveland Browns. This was reported by NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero before the Bengals officially confirmed the deal in the evening.

The 40-year-old playmaker is likely to become the Bengals’ new starting quarterback. Superstar Joe Burrow will be out for some time with a toe injury. Backup Jake Browning has not been able to convince recently.

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The Bengals are trading for Joe Flacco, according to me and @TomPelissero

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 7, 2025

In return, Cincinnati trades a fifth-round pick for the veteran to Cleveland. In exchange, the Browns send another sixth-round pick to the Bengals. In addition, Brett Rypien must leave to make room for Flacco.

“Joe is an experienced quarterback with a proven winning mentality,” said Head Coach Zac Taylor.

“He is a leader with a skill set that fits very well with our team. He is a talented passer with a strong arm, and we are excited to have him on our roster.”

Joe Flacco to the Bengals: Benched by the Cleveland Browns

Flacco was replaced by rookie Dillon Gabriel after four appearances this season with the Browns prior to his move to Cincinnati. Up to that point, Flacco had thrown for 815 yards and two touchdowns, but also six interceptions.

NFL: Flacco last in passer rating

He never scored more than 17 points in those four games. After those four appearances, Flacco also ranked last among quarterbacks in passer rating (60.3), completion rate (58.1 percent), and yards per attempt (5.1).

It is therefore no exaggeration to describe the Bengals’ move as an act of desperation. The trade is probably driven by the hope that Flacco, with weapons such as Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, can once again show his class and carry the Bengals until Burrow’s possible comeback. When it comes to experience, the 40-year-old is hard to beat, having played in the NFL since 2008.

The team is currently 2-3, so the playoffs are definitely still a possibility. Burrow is reportedly out for three months, so he might not be back until the end of the regular season in mid-December. Apparently, the Bengals think they have a better chance of making the postseason with Flacco than with Browning.