The Cincinnati Bengals‘ acquisition of quarterback Joe Flacco was designed to, in part, placate superstar wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
Mission accomplished.
Chase and co-star wide receiver Tee Higgins opened up about Flacco’s arrival and his upcoming start in the Bengals’ game Sunday against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
Chase is coming off his best game since Joe Burrow went on injured reserve in Cincinnati’s 37-24 loss to the Detroit Lions, posting six catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns. But he has just 16 receptions on 24 targets and only 183 yards in three games with Jake Browning at the helm.
The Bengals, of course, acquired Flacco from the Cleveland Browns for a fifth-round draft pick on Tuesday. Bengals coach Zac Taylor named Flacco the starter for their Week 6 game in Green Bay — before he had even donned a Bengals uniform.
The Bengals (2-3) have dropped three straight yet are in second place in the AFC North and sit only 1.5 games back of the first-place Pittsburgh Steelers.
Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Flacco Are Off To a Great Start
Flacco is a pro’s pro, even at 40 years of age. His accomplishments speak for themselves, especially considering he went from the University of Delaware to a first-round pick and Super Bowl MVP — and potential Hall of Famer — over his 17-season NFL career that has spanned 18 years.
So simply stepping on the field with Flacco put Chase in an excited mood, and the All-Pro wideout spoke highly of their first day together at practice.
“Everybody knows who he is: one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play [the position],” Chase said. “It’s good to get him out there. We had some good reps today. He’s getting a good feel of the offense.”
Still, Chase, who has mostly taking receptions from Burrow and Browning over the past three years had one notable adjustment while practicing with Flacco.
“He calls the plays a little fast, so that was something new just hearing,” Chase said. “Other than that he’s pretty smooth.”
Joe Flacco Still ‘Can Sling It’ According to Tee Higgins
No one has ever questioned Flacco’s arm strength, though his numbers have dipped as a consequence of playing with the Browns’ limited offensive weapons.
So getting on the field with the likes of Chase and Higgins is enough to revive the 2023 NFL Comeback Player of the Year’s season, and Higgins can see the skill still there.
“The guy can sling it,” Higgins said of the football. “He’s picking up the offense really fast, and it’s going to be great.”
That left Higgins feeling a similar vibe as Chase.
“I’m very excited, especially with what he can do with the ball in his hand,” Higgins said. “I’m looking forward to it and looking forward to doing better with the offense and get things going.”
The Bengals targeted Flacco specifically due to his experience of opposing defenses and the lack of a learning curve — specifically with the Packers, who he already played against once this year.
But Higgins and Chase may be responsible for helping Flacco get up to speed faster with the Bengals offense.
“Certain plays he don’t know or needs help with, we’re here to help,” Higgins said. “Whether it be in the locker room or finding stuff around the facility. We’re here to help.”
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