This story has been updated with new information, including the team’s official announcement.
Joe Flacco started for the Browns against the Cincinnati Bengals in the season opener. Now, he could be starting for the Bengals sooner rather than later.
The Browns are sending Flacco, their former starting quarterback, and a sixth-round pick in 2026 to their in-state AFC North rivals in Cincinnati in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick, the team officially announced shortly after it was initially reported.
The sixth-round pick originally belonged to the Detroit Lions, but was sent to the Browns in the Za’Darius Smith trade.
The move is the first trade ever between the Browns and Bengals organizations, since the infamous A.J. McCarron deal fell through in 2017 because the Browns failed to file the necessary paperwork in time with the NFL. The Bengals were famously started in 1967 by Paul Brown, the Hall of Fame coach who had been fired by Browns owner Art Modell in 1962.
“Joe is an experienced quarterback with a history of winning,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said in a statement from the team. “He is a leader with a skill set that will fit our personnel well. He is a gifted passer with a strong arm, and we are excited to have him on our team.”
More important to the Browns’ present, and their future, is what this does to their quarterback room. The only two quarterbacks currently on the active roster are rookies: third-round pick Dillon Gabriel and fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders.
Sanders was No. 3 on the quarterback depth chart through the first five games. That included when Gabriel replaced Flacco as the starter for the Week 5 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London.
Will the Browns elevate Bailey Zappe from the practice squad?
Bailey Zappe, a fourth-year pro, is currently on the practice squad. There’s a distinct chance he will be signed to the active roster to replace Flacco, and could be the backup when the Browns travel to Pittsburgh Oct. 12 to face the Steelers.
Deshaun Watson remains on the physically unable to perform list as he returned from multiple Achilles surgeries. Coach Kevin Stefanski has said the last two weeks the Browns aren’t ready to open up his window for return to practice, which is the first step toward him returning to the active roster.
Joe Flacco stats this season for the Browns
At the time of his benching after the Week 4 loss to the Detroit Lions, Flacco ranked second in attempts (160) and fourth in completions (93) among quarterbacks in the league, but 30th in completion percentage (58.1%) and 19th in yards (815). His 60.3 passer rating is currently 32nd among eligible passers.
Flacco’s six interceptions are behind only two quarterbacks: Las Vegas Raiders’ Geno Smith (nine) and the Bengals’ Jake Browning (eight). Browning replaced Joe Burrow when Burrow suffered a toe injury in Cincinnati’s Week 2 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Bengals have been beaten by double figures in all three games Browning has started since Burrow’s injury. Cincinnati waived quarterback Mike White off the practice squad earlier Oct. 7, then waived Brett Rypien off the active roster after acquiring Flacco.
The trade means Flacco will have played for three of the four AFC North teams. The 40-year-old, 18-year veteran spent the first 11 years of his career with the Baltimore Ravens, where he was the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player in their Super Bowl 47 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
Flacco has a chance to become the second quarterback to start for both the Browns and the Bengals, joining Jeff Driskel. He will become the first to start for the Browns, Bengals and Ravens should he do so.
This is a developing story.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Browns trade Joe Flacco to division rival Cincinnati Bengals
Reporting by Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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