CINCINNATI — Former Bengals star Chad Johnson has been clamoring for a quarterback addition recently, and he got his wish on Tuesday. Joe Flacco is headed south from Cleveland,

The Bengals are 2-3, and if they want any chance at being playoff-ready by the time Burrow returns, there needs to be a major shakeup at the quarterback position. The AFC is loaded with talented teams, and Cincinnati is arguably one of those teams.

Joe Flacco arrived at his first practice as the new Cincinnati Bengals starting quarterback on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025.

The Bengals will start newly acquired quarterback Joe Flacco this Sunday against the Packers, coach Zac Taylor announced Wednesday.

Browning has gone 0-3 as the starting quarterback, passing for six touchdowns and eight interceptions. The 29-year-old tossed three more interceptions in the Bengals' 37-24 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 5. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor left the door open for a QB change following Sunday's game.

The 2025 NFL season hasn't gone according to plan for the Cincinnati Bengals after losing their star quarterback Joe Burrow for the majority of the season, and now the AFC North team plans on making a huge change at the position after completing a trade with a division rival.

Still, the fact the Bengals are letting go of a quarterback right now might possibly hint at something else coming later. White was a candidate to come up from the practice squad and start if Taylor wanted to keep things in-house.