Cincinnati – Quarterback Joe Flacco has rejuvenated the Cincinnati Bengals offense since joining from the rival Cleveland Browns, now facing an injury that may impact his future participation. Flacco sustained an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder, putting his availability in jeopardy for the upcoming Week 9 match against Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears.
If Flacco is unable to play, Jake Browning is expected to step back into the starting role, while the Bengals also have Sean Clifford on the practice squad.
During a recent press conference, Bengals coach Zac Taylor noted that there is a ‘50-50’ chance of Flacco’s participation.
“He won’t practice today,” Taylor stated. “We’ll see what we can potentially get out of him [on Thursday]. We’ll just work through the week. Right now, it’s 50-50 on how it will turn out on Sunday.”
If Flacco misses practice entirely, Taylor indicated he would still consider starting him on Sunday if the 40-year-old feels ready.
“I’ve seen him show up three days with no prior knowledge of our offense, and I think it’s proof we could do it if necessary,” Taylor commented when questioned about Flacco’s play readiness without practice reps.
After his transfer to the Bengals on October 7, Flacco took charge just five days later in Week 6, despite a 27-18 loss against the Green Bay Packers. He stood out in a Week 7 Thursday game against the Steelers, passing for 342 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-31 victory, having only practiced for two days.
The Bengals have recently faced a tough loss, succumbing 39-38 to the New York Jets, where they allowed a struggling offense to accumulate 502 total yards while conceding 23 points in the last quarter. Despite this, Flacco has impressively accounted for eight touchdowns without turnovers in his initial three appearances for Cincinnati.
Joe Flacco vs. Jake Browning Through Three Starts
| Record | Total Yards Per Game | Points Per Game | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Flacco | 1-2 | 378.7 | 29.7 |
| Jake Browning | 0-3 | 217.3 | 12.3 |
Flacco’s presence has also benefited star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who has secured 38 passes for 346 yards and two touchdowns within Flacco’s three starts. Notably, this total ties for the most receptions in a three-game stretch with Michael Thomas in 2018 and represents the highest targets count in the last 45 seasons.
Currently, the 3-5 Bengals sit second in the AFC North, trailing the Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3) and with the Baltimore Ravens (2-5) showing signs of resurgence as Lamar Jackson, the two-time NFL MVP, is poised to return this Thursday against the Miami Dolphins.
