Cincinnati Bengals acquiring Joe Flacco in trade with Cleveland Browns

Mike Moraitis

Cincinnati Bengals acquiring Joe Flacco in trade with Cleveland Browns image

Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

The Cincinnati Bengals are reportedly adding more quarterback help.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the Bengals are trading for Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco.

ESPN's Adam Schefter adds that the trade will see the two teams swap picks, with a sixth-rounder going to the Bengals and a fifth-rounder heading to Cleveland. The sixth-round pick is the Detroit Lions' original selection.

This trade is obviously bad news for Bengals quarterback Jake Browning, who was filling in for the injured Joe Burrow after the quarterback suffered a Grade 3 turf toe injury that required surgery and will keep him out at least three months.

Browning has been awful in three games since Burrow's injury and the Bengals have fallen to 2-3 as a result.

Head coach Zac Taylor hinted that a change might be upon us this week after the latest stinker from Browning. His comment came not long after Taylor expressed his "unwavering" support for Browning prior to Week 5.

Flacco became expendable in Cleveland after the team decided to bench him in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel. With Flacco gone, that should mean Shedeur Sanders moves into the QB2 role behind Gabriel.

Now, it'll be interesting to see if Flacco goes under center right away in Week 6, or if he'll need more time to get situated. Chances are the latter will be true, as Flacco now has to learn a new offense on the fly.

Either way, Browning's days as the starter are likely numbered.

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Mike Moraitis

Mike Moraitis is a freelance writer who covers the NFL for the Sporting News. Over his nearly two decades covering sports, Mike has also worked for Bleacher Report, USA TODAY and FanSided. He hates writing in the third person.