Joe

Flacco

Flacco has been searching for an unlikely path to a starting job, but one doesn’t seem like it will materialize any time soon. The Bengals brought in Josh Johnson as a backup, but Dehner believes he’s just a hedge in case Flacco is able to find more reps elsewhere. Our nation’s great Flacco free-agency scuttlebutt will continue.

We’ve seen little indication that Flacco would be in play for a starting job anywhere to this point, so a return to the Bengals to backup Joe Burrow could be in the cards for the 41-year-old. Flacco played reasonably well last year in the circumstances and did an admirable job of boosting Ja’Marr Chase’s fantasy points after Jake Browning left many bank examiners busy in the first month of the season. Flacco has been mentioned as someone the Falcons could use as a bridge until Michael Penix is ready to return from his ACL injury.

It makes sense given the uncertainty over Michael Penix (knee) and his ability to be ready for the start of the season. Stefanski was reportedly crushed last season when the Browns traded Flacco away. We’re not sure that this would be a 1A plan for the Falcons at the position, but it is a reasonable fallback plan.

Flacco finished out the season as Cincinnati’s backup quarterback after Joe Burrow returned from injury in Week 13. The soon-to-be 41-year-old told reporters he’s open to staying on as Burrow’s backup, but also open to fielding calls from a team that needed a quarterback next season. It sounds like Flacco has yet another One Last Job season loading for 2026.

Burrow will return to the 3-8 Bengals on Thursday night against the Ravens after missing two and a half months with a toe injury. “I’m not going to ever go to somebody and say, ‘yeah, I’m healthy, but I don’t think I should play.’ That doesn’t make a lot of sense to me,” Burrow said Tuesday. “I’m not going to live my life and play this game scared of something happening. … Yeah, I’ve had injuries. It’s not a lot I can do about that. I worked really hard to have that not happen, but what I can do is when it does happen I can control how I’m attacking my rehab.” The Athletic’s Mike Silver said Burrow is “comfortable” with his injured toe and will manage the pain during games. The return of Burrow doesn’t change the prospects of Bengals pass catchers all that much in Week 13. Burrow should be considered a top-12 fantasy play against Baltimore.

Burrow practiced on Monday and is fully expected to start for the Bengals on Thursday night against the Ravens. He missed two and a half months with a toe injury he sustained in Week 2 against the Jaguars. Burrow’s return could give the Bengals an outside shot to sneak into the playoffs, though that would likely require a Thanksgiving night win over the heavily-favored Ravens. Burrow struggled before this toe injury. He ranked 29th out of 33 qualifying QBs in drop back success rate in the first couple weeks of the season. Ja’Marr Chase’s fantasy prospects don’t change all that much with Burrow back under center.

Burrow has all but announced on Instagram that he’ll be back, Zac Taylor couldn’t bring himself to say the words but we all know what is implied in “anticipating” a return. Burrow will almost certainly start against the Ravens and return to the QB1 line while Joe Flacco (shoulder/finger, limited) heads back to the bench on Thursday.

Things were always going to be tough for Flacco against this defense without Ja’Marr Chase (suspension), and that’s exactly how it played out. The 40-year-old quarterback was under pressure frequently and unable to find many receivers open downfield for much of the game. However, he did lead a fourth-quarter touchdown drive to get the Bengals to within three and had a chance to lead a game-winning drive, but came up just short deep in New England’s territory. Joe Burrow (toe) was close to returning this week, but on a short week it’s unknown if he’ll suit up on Thursday in Week 13. Flacco would be a low-end QB2 if he drew another start.

Burrow practiced all week and was even taking first-team reps by the end of the week. Still, the Bengals are making the call to hold him out for one more game with a short week coming up, leaving Joe Flacco to make another start against the Patriots in Week 12. Burrow, who will remain on injured reserve, appears to be on track to return from a toe injury that’s kept him out since Week 2 in Week 13 against the Ravens on Thanksgiving Day.

Flacco upgraded to full participation on Friday. Whether his services will be needed come Sunday is currently unknown. Joe Burrow (toe) is questionable to play after practicing fully all week and the Bengals now have until 4 PM EST on Saturday to decide whether to activate him from injured reserve. Flacco is a borderline QB1/2 if the team opts to give him another start.