Did the Bengals really end up with Joe Flacco by default? That’s what recent reports suggest — and the story behind it is filled with behind-the-scenes phone calls, unexpected decisions, and a lot of quiet speculation.
CINCINNATI — It appears Joe Flacco wasn’t exactly the Bengals’ dream pick to rescue their 2025 season. According to ESPN insider Dan Graziano, Cincinnati’s front office had kicked around several quarterback possibilities before ultimately settling on the 40-year-old veteran. But here’s where it gets interesting — they reportedly had zero interest in big-name options like Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, or Kirk Cousins. Instead, their internal conversations focused on lesser-discussed names such as the Eagles’ Sam Howell and Seattle’s Drew Lock.
Graziano revealed that when franchise QB Joe Burrow went down, the Bengals genuinely believed backup Jake Browning could step in effectively. That confidence held for a while, but after a string of disappointing performances — including a third consecutive loss — the team began making calls to nearly every organization with an extra quarterback on its roster. “They weren’t planning to trade for anyone,” Graziano noted, “but desperation changes things fast.”
And yet, even with phones buzzing across the league, Cincinnati quickly discovered that no team was eager to part ways with potential quarterback depth. New York’s veterans weren’t on the table, Atlanta wasn’t moving Cousins, and while there was light chatter around Howell and Lock, no serious deals ever came close to materializing.
That’s when the Bengals turned their attention to Joe Flacco — a Super Bowl MVP with years of experience and just enough left in the tank to provide short-term hope. Before the trade, reports suggested that Cincinnati didn’t expect a new addition to immediately impact the lineup. But after seeing what Flacco still brings to the table, those expectations shifted fast. Now, there’s a growing belief he could even start as early as this week against Green Bay — or, if not by then, next Thursday’s divisional clash with the Steelers.
The Bengals currently sit at 2–3 in a chaotic AFC North. With Burrow sidelined and the Ravens battling their own issues, the division feels wide open. Cincinnati’s leadership seems determined not to fade quietly from contention — especially with the possibility, however slim, that Burrow could return before the season ends.
Flacco now steps into a challenging but intriguing situation. The Bengals offense, still finding its rhythm, sits near the bottom of the league rankings — not far from the very team where Flacco’s career once soared: the Cleveland Browns. He’s already been benched once this season, handing the job to a rookie, but could a change of scenery and better offensive weapons revive his trajectory? That’s the gamble Cincinnati is willing to take.
We’ll start to see how that plays out soon — when the Bengals take on the Packers this Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.
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But here’s the real question: Do you think Joe Flacco can realistically keep Cincinnati’s season alive — or is this just another short-term patch for a team searching for answers? Let us know what you think in the comments — is this a smart move, or a last-ditch hail mary?
