The Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals executed a rare divisional trade on Tuesday.
Former Cleveland quarterback Joe Flacco is headed across the state of Ohio to Cincinnati. The Bengals will acquire a sixth-round pick along with the former Super Bowl MVP, while a fifth-rounder goes to the Browns.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero first reported the trade details, and the teams later confirmed the terms.
Flacco, 40, started the first four games for Cleveland before being benched for rookie Dillon Gabriel in Week 5. The Bengals, meanwhile, have lost three straight games with Jake Browning under center for the injured Joe Burrow.
Turf toe is an injury to the big toe joint, which carries most of the body’s weight, and can sideline a football player for months.
With Burrow unlikely to return until at least mid-December, Flacco gives the Bengals another option to keep the team afloat. Browning has eight interceptions in four appearances this season, compared to six picks for Flacco.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor was non-committal on Browning’s status as the team’s starter after losing to the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Rapoport said that Flacco is expected to take over as the Bengals’ starter until Burrow returns.
As for the Browns, head coach Kevin Stefanski is now putting his full confidence in the rookie duo of Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, who will assume the backup role from Flacco.
The Bengals head to Lambeau Field in Week 6 for a game against the Green Bay Packers, with Flacco potentially starting. Cleveland returns from London to face the Steelers in Pittsburgh.