Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco appears to be making solid progress as the team prepares for its Week 9 matchup against the Chicago Bears. The 40-year-old veteran, who is nursing a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder, told reporters he felt “pretty good” after throwing earlier in the week.
While head coach Zac Taylor hasn’t named him the official starter, both he and Flacco expressed cautious optimism about his availability.
“I thought he did a nice job out there,” Taylor said. “I saw what we would hope to see for a guy to be able to play on Sunday. Now we’ll just work through the next few days to see where it ends up.”
Flacco, officially listed as questionable, participated in uniform on Friday but observed during the open portion of practice. Backup Jake Browning handled first-team reps on Wednesday and Friday.
Since joining Cincinnati via trade before Week 6, Flacco has thrown seven touchdowns without an interception, helping stabilize the offense after a rocky start. The Bengals, now 3-5, will need every bit of his experience as they fight to stay competitive heading into their bye week.
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Veteran Leadership and Resilience Define Flacco’s Mindset
Flacco injured his shoulder after a sack in last week’s 39-38 loss to the New York Jets. He skipped Wednesday and Friday practices to rest but was limited on Thursday. Despite the discomfort, the 18-year veteran said his instinct is to “try to play,” adding,
“You’re the quarterback. You take it from there. My instinct is whatever we can do to get there and adjust.”
Taylor praised the veteran’s toughness and influence in the locker room.
“When you see leaders and guys you’re counting on doing that, how can you not give your all for those guys?” He said. “The character in our locker room has been awesome to watch.”
Flacco’s career-long approach hasn’t changed, even at 40. He once missed the birth of his second child to start for the Ravens in 2013, something he referenced while discussing his current situation.
“That was always just the mindset—just getting to the point where I can [play] and working toward that,” Flacco said.
If he’s unable to start Sunday, Browning will lead the offense, with Sean Clifford elevated from the practice squad as the emergency option. Meanwhile, All-Pro pass rusher Trey Hendrickson is listed as doubtful with a hip issue, marking another potential setback for Cincinnati’s lineup.
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