The second sentence Zac Taylor told Joe Flacco is the most important news of the Bengals’ week leading up to Packers game
Flacco is getting ready for a quick turnaround after being traded to Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor wanted a quarterback plan finalized by Wednesday, and he got one with Joe Flacco.
Cincinnati traded for Flacco Tuesday, sent a car for him and his wife to drive down from Cleveland, and the 40-year old is slated to start on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers for a late window kickoff.
Taylor confirmed Flacco’s starting status to reporters Wednesday, even saying it was one of the first things he told his new QB.
“That’s probably the second sentence I told him,” Taylor said. “Welcome to the club, and we’re ready to start you on Sunday.”
Joe Flacco confirmed to start immediately for Bengals
There’s no time to waste for Flacco and his new team. Now on his fourth different team since 2022, he’s got just a couple practices to catch up to speed and take the reins from Jake Browning amid a three-game losing streak.
Flacco will be a part of Bengals history Sunday. Only twice in the Bengals’ 58 years of existence have they started three quarterbacks in the first six games of a season. Boomer Esiaison, Dave Walter, and Adrian Breen all started at least one of the first six games of 1987, and Gus Frerotte, Akili Smith and Jon Kitna in 2002.
Cincinnati finished 4-11 and 2-14 in those years, respectively. Quarterback continuity is kind of important. Who would’ve known?
Flacco’s experience and the Bengals’ familiarity with him is why he’s now leading an AFC North offense after he was benched by another only a week ago. The Cleveland Browns turned their sights to rookie Dillon Gabiel after Flacco posted a 1-3 record as the starter. That doesn’t take away the 200 regular season starts he’s made since entering the league as a first-round pick back in 2008.
“You just know him,” Taylor said. “Know his game as well, played against him I don’t know how many times. A lot of times. Very comfortable with his style, concepts he’s been good at, things that fit us that we do. A lot of the terminology, there’s a bunch of carryover, more so than I would’ve anticipated. So I feel like we can get him up to speed quickly.”
That process started Wednesday when Flacco spun the pigskin for the first time in his new shade of orange. Thursday will be his second, and last, full practice before Friday’s walkthrough and then it’s on to Lambeau Field, where he sports a 1-2 record and last played at in 2019.
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