Bengals say Flacco trade gives team 'a chance'

CINCINNATI -- At first, Ja'Marr Chase thought it was a gag erstwhile helium got a telephone from chap Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins with the biggest quality of the week.

But aft a follow-up telephone from manager Zac Taylor, it was wide Higgins was serious. Cincinnati had so traded for Joe Flacco to beryllium the team's caller starting quarterback.

The determination comes amid the Bengals' three-game losing streak and a agelong of ineffective violative performances. With Jake Browning starting for the injured Joe Burrow, Cincinnati failed to muster much than 3 points successful the archetypal 3 quarters of each caller loss.

By trading for Flacco, Chase said it's a motion of the content the franchise inactive has for this season.

"They conscionable spot that we've got a chance," Chase said connected Thursday. "Defense is doing a bully capable occupation to assistance america out. Our playmakers gotta marque plays successful space. That's what they see. That's what they privation - is to support going. They're conscionable giving america an accidental to marque much of those plays happen."

Higgins said helium was scrolling societal media connected Tuesday erstwhile helium saw the quality that Cincinnati was dealing a fifth-round draught prime to the Cleveland Browns successful speech for Flacco and a sixth-round draught pick. Both selections are for adjacent year's draft.

Like the bulk of the squad calved adjacent the crook of the century, Chase and Higgins were inactive children erstwhile Flacco started his NFL vocation successful 2008 with the Baltimore Ravens.

"I was messing with immoderate of the guys; I was like, 'He was successful the league erstwhile we were getting successful occupation for being extracurricular with the streetlights on," Higgins said astatine his locker connected Thursday.

But some prima receivers cognize what Flacco tin bring to Cincinnati's offense.

"The guy's been doing this for a while," Higgins said. "It doesn't look similar helium took a measurement disconnected with his arm. So it's looking good."

Since Flacco arrived successful Cincinnati, the coaching unit has been spending arsenic overmuch clip arsenic imaginable to get the 40-year-old seasoned up to speed. Flacco has the payment of playing the Green Bay Packers, the team's upcoming opponent, already this season.

Flacco's lone triumph successful 4 starts with the Browns this play was a Week 3 location triumph against the Packers. Flacco, a erstwhile Super Bowl MVP, was benched 2 weeks aft that win. This season, helium has 2 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Green Bay is simply a 14.5-point location favourite for Flacco's debut with Cincinnati. As the erstwhile 2008 draught prime has prepared for taking implicit a caller offense, Chase was impressed with Flacco's demeanor.

"He comes successful each time smiling," Chase said. "Happy to beryllium here, loves talking to the guys. He's talking to everybody, to beryllium honest, and that's bully to see."

Toward the extremity of Thursday's media availability, Flacco plopped down adjacent to Browning to chat successful the precocious afternoon. Flacco is scheduled to marque his archetypal nationalist remarks aft the commercialized pursuing Friday's practice.

Chase said determination has been a lot...