Browns trade QB Flacco to Bengals, sources say

The Cincinnati Bengals turned to their part rivals for a much-needed solution astatine quarterback, acquiring Joe Flacco successful a commercialized with the Cleveland Browns, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Cincinnati besides volition person a sixth-round draught prime portion Cleveland landed a fifth-round prime successful the trade, sources told Schefter.

The Bengals person been seeking a semipermanent assistance nether halfway since franchise backmost Joe Burrow suffered a toed wounded successful Week 2. Jake Browning has struggled since replacing the injured Burrow, throwing 8 interceptions implicit parts of 4 games.

Flacco joins Cincinnati 2 days aft the Bengals (2-3) mislaid their 3rd consecutive crippled with Browning, who threw 3 much interceptions successful Sunday's 37-24 nonaccomplishment to the Detroit Lions. Cincinnati has been outscored, 113-37, during the three-game skid.

Bengals manager Zac Taylor was non-committal erstwhile asked astir Browning's presumption arsenic the starter, saying Sunday the enactment was "going to look astatine each unit to marque definite we're doing the close thing." Taylor besides admitted that speculation astir Browning's relation was "fair" due to the fact that of "the magnitude of turnovers that we had."

The Bengals, who entered the play with a steadfast Burrow and lofty expectations, present seemingly volition crook to the 40-year-old Flacco, who has a caller past of energizing offenses.

Flacco was named the Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year successful 2023 aft a prolific five-game agelong with the Browns, who went 4-1 implicit that stretch. The erstwhile Super Bowl MVP passed for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns aft replacing the injured Deshaun Watson, starring Cleveland to an improbable postseason berth.

Flacco besides had a productive but shaky agelong past play with the Indianapolis Colts, wherever helium replaced an injured Anthony Richardson. In 8 games -- six starts -- with Indianapolis, Flacco completed 65.3% of his passes for 1761 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The Browns brought backmost Flacco this past offseason to supply seasoned enactment to a crowded backmost country that besides included rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. The 18-year-old seasoned started Cleveland's archetypal 4 games this play earlier being replaced by Gabriel successful past Sunday's nonaccomplishment to the Minnesota Vikings.

Flacco's departure from Cleveland could unfastened the doorway for Sanders to beryllium elevated to the No. 2 backmost spot down Gabriel. Sanders has been Cleveland's exigency third-string backmost for the archetypal 5 games of the season.