T
he Cincinnati Bengals could soon look a lot different. Starting the season at 2-0, the Bengals soon found themselves in a big hole when starting quarterback Joe Burrow went down with a toe injury, putting the team in quarterback purgatory. After a few weeks of struggles, the Bengals made a move to acquire Joe Flacco from the Cleveland Browns, giving them some stability at the position while Burrow recovered. In Burrow’s absence, despite the Bengals sitting at 3-7, Flacco has played well and has looked like a player who can still play high level football even at age 40.
But Burrow returned to practice this week and after a couple of days of being a full participant, he will make his return to the field on Sunday, Nov. 23 when the Bengals take on the New England Patriots. Now back as the backup and being his age, Flacco could have an uncertain future in the NFL. But in an interview this week, it doesn’t look like Flacco is ready to hang them up just yet– eyeing a starting opportunity in 2026.
Flacco Would Like to Start Next Year
Burrow has not officially been ruled healthy enough to play, but after being a full participant in practice on Wednesday, Nov. 19. and getting reps with the starters, it is trending in the direction that he will play. That would mean that Flacco’s run as the Bengals’ starter is over and he will become Burrow’s backup for the rest of the season. But just because he is once again a backup, it does not mean that he wants to retire. In fact, he hopes that his good performance as the Bengals’ starter proves to other teams that he still has what it takes to start.
“Hopefully it reinforces it in somebody’s mind that I can do it,” Flacco said. “I do still want to do it. I still feel like I can do it. This obviously does help with the confidence of being able to do it and all that stuff. I would like an opportunity, but you just never know.”
Flacco struggled with the Browns this season but once he joined the Bengals, he immediately turned things around, throwing for 1,453 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions, helping the Bengals’ offense improve mightily without Burrow leading the way. Even if Flacco does not see the field for the rest of the season, the Bengals can go into each game knowing that they have one of the NFL’s best backup quarterbacks.
Flacco’s Career Thus Far
Drafted in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens, Flacco spent the first 11 seasons of his career as the franchise’s starting quarterback, guiding them to a Super Bowl XLVII title in 2012, earning Super Bowl MVP honors as well. Despite never making a Pro Bowl, Flacco proved himself vital to the Ravens’ success, leading the team to the playoffs six times. Having the most career passing yards and touchdowns for a quarterback that has never made a Pro Bowl, Flacco is known for his arm strength– at one point having one of the strongest arms in the entire NFL.
After Lamar Jackson took over as the Ravens’ quarterback midway through the ’18 season, Flacco was traded after the season to the Denver Broncos and has been a journeyman quarterback ever since.
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