Will Joe Flacco start in Week 6? NFL insider reveals Bengals’ plan for new quarterback originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Cincinnati Bengals have acquired quarterback Joe Flacco in a trade with the Cleveland Browns and now many are wondering if he’ll be ready to start right away.
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Flacco was traded to the Bengals on Tuesday along with a sixth-round pick and Cincinnati is sending the Browns a fifth-rounder in return.
The Bengals made the move amid Jake Browning’s struggles in place of an injured Joe Burrow, who is expected to be sidelined until at least mid-December after suffering a Grade 3 turf toe injury.
But will the Bengals make the switch to Flacco in Week 6 against the Green Bay Packers with the veteran only having days to learn a new playbook?
Here’s what we know.
Will Joe Flacco start in Week 6?
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bengals are hoping Flacco will be ready to go for the contest against the Packers on Sunday. The expectation is Flacco will be able to pick up the playbook quickly enough to do so.
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“Bengals would like their new QB Joe Flacco to be ready to play Sunday at Green Bay vs. the Packers. The veteran Flacco is expected to be a quick learner,” he reported.
If Flacco does indeed get the start, he will be facing the Packers for the second time in three Green Bay games. Flacco and the Browns knocked off Green Bay in Week 3, 13-10, and the Packers have only played one game since then because of a bye last week.
Flacco struggled in that game, though, as he completed 21-of-36 passes for 142 yards and one interception. He went on to start in Week 4, but Flacco was then benched after that game in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel.
Adding to that, Flacco will become the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to start a game for the Bengals, Browns and Baltimore Ravens, so he’ll be making some NFL history.
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