Sports
Bengals Sign QB Heavily Linked to Vikings
After extensive quarterback theories, sponsored by fans and media members, the Minnesota Vikings landed on a double-fisted combo at quarterback next to J.J. McCarthy in 2026: Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz. That man will not be Joe Flacco, who frequented the rumor mill in the last two months. Flacco signed with the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday.
Cincinnati closed the door on one more Vikings-adjacent QB rumor from early in the offseason.
Flacco’s career continues to chug along, the poster of volume stats when a team’s QB1 gets hurt.
Cincinnati’s Move Ends the Flacco Theories for Another Year
Flacco returns to a familiar spot.
Flacco to CIN
It’s a reunion deal for Flacco, who wound up in Cincinnati via trade midseason when Joe Burrow missed several games.
ESPN’s Ben Bay wrote Tuesday, “Joe Flacco is coming back for another season. The 41-year-old quarterback has agreed to a one-year deal to stay with the Cincinnati Bengals, his agent, Joe Linta, told ESPN. Sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler the contract is for $6 million, but could be worth up to $9 million with incentives.”
“Flacco began last season as the Cleveland Browns’ top quarterback. But after four starts, he was benched in favor of Cleveland rookie Dillon Gabriel. Around the same time, the Bengals needed a starting quarterback following Joe Burrow’s turf toe injury and Jake Browning’s struggles. Cincinnati sent the Browns a 2026 fifth-round pick in exchange for Flacco and a 2026 sixth-round pick. Browning signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier this offseason.”
The guy has Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers-like staying power per age.
The Las Vegas Raiders were evidently interested in Flacco, too, as Cincy Jungle‘s Anthony Cosenza noted, “Apparently, the Las Vegas Raiders were heavily interested in Flacco, with the Bengals stepping up to land the 41-year-old signal-caller. While the Bengals prioritized re-signing Flacco, they also had the understanding that he was going to search for the best offer, and one that had the potential to start.”
“While he doesn’t receive the latter in Cincinnati, he got a lucrative backup deal (one year, $6 million, worth up to $9 million) and returns to a place he seemed to have greatly enjoyed when coming over midseason.”
Resume in the NFL
Flacco joined the NFL from Round 1 in 2008 with the Baltimore Ravens and has started 201 games since. He ranks 14th all-time in passing yards and 21st in passing touchdowns. As of late, he’s morphed into a mercenary for hire, the guy called by teams when a QB1 gets hurt, and volume passing is needed.
In 18 seasons, he averages 230 passing yards per game and won a Super Bowl with the 2012 Ravens.
Here’s his destination resume:
- Baltimore Ravens (2008–2018)
- Denver Broncos (2019)
- New York Jets (2020)
- Philadelphia Eagles (2021)
- New York Jets (2021–2022)
- Cleveland Browns (2023)
- Indianapolis Colts (2024)
- Cleveland Browns (2025)
- Cincinnati Bengals (2025–now)
SI.com‘s James Rapien on the Bengals’ 2026 quarterback room: “Flacco returns to be Burrow’s backup. The Bengals also signed veteran Josh Johnson earlier this month. They have a trio of signal callers that make up arguably the best quarterback room in the NFL.”
“Burrow is one of, if not the best quarterback on the planet when he’s healthy. Flacco is a Super Bowl champion entering his 19th season. Johnson is a battle tested veteran that has bounced around the league, but has stuck around and joins Flacco as the only other quarterback from the 2008 NFL Draft that is still in the league.”
Burrow Insurance
The Bengals basically wanted another Joe in case their main Joe gets hurt. Burrow isn’t necessarily injury-prone, but compared to other Top 10 quarterbacks, he’s not far from the label. In the last three seasons, Burrow has missed one-third of all games due to injury.
Instead of trading for Flacco if something happens to Burrow in 2026 — that’s what the Bengals did last year — they simply re-signed him in March to hedge the bet.
The previous QB2 alternative was a man named Jake Browning, who began his career with the Vikings a half-decade ago. Browning turned heads in his few starts with decent performance but later fizzled and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week.
All the Bengals FA Moves
Cincinnati has been one of the quieter teams in free agency per volume, with these newcomers and re-signings:
- Jonathan Allen (DL) MIN → CIN
- Bryan Cook (S) KC → CIN
- Joe Flacco (QB) CIN → CIN
- Boye Mafe (ED) SEA → CIN
- Josh Johnson (QB) BAL → CIN
And then men who left for new adventures:
- Tycen Anderson (S) CIN → DEN
- Jake Browning (QB) CIN → TB
- Noah Fant (TE) CIN → NO
- Geno Stone (S) CIN → BUF
- Trey Hendrickson (ED) CIN → BAL
- Marco Wilson (CB) CIN → MIA
- Joseph Ossai (ED) CIN → NYJ
- Cam Taylor-Britt (CB) CIN → IND
Flacco will turn 42 during the postseason in 2026. The Vikings are slated to play the Bengals again in 2029.
Meanwhile, Rangers are attempting to schedule a meeting of Premiership clubs to discusss the use of video assistant referees (VAR), a discussion which may happen in the next fortnight.
Many clubs have publicly expressed concerns about VAR and the general state of refereeing in Scotland.
It’s believed that Rangers have not ruled out withdrawing their financial support of VAR but broadly they believe the system is here to stay.
They might even be prepared to invest more in the technology – for example extra cameras – if they had sufficient confidence that increased investment would lead to better quality decision-making.
When the meeting of clubs takes place there will be an emphasis on coming up with ways to improve the product and get better value for money.
Last month, Paraag Marathe, then the club’s vice-chairman as well as chairman of Leeds United, stood down after discussions with Uefa about multi-club ownership.
Another Rangers director at the time Gene Schneur, also left his role at Ibrox at that time. Neither will be replaced.
Cavenagh also offered his support for manager, Danny Rohl, ahead of the title run-in.
“We are three points off the lead, with seven matches to play,” he said.
“We have complete confidence in Danny, his staff, and our squad. We will approach each match as it comes, and fingers crossed, we will be at the top of the table after 38 matches.”
Sports
IPL 2026: Gujarat Titans pick left-arm pacer to replace injured Prithviraj Yarra | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: Gujarat Titans have made a key change ahead of IPL 2026, bringing in left-arm pacer Kulwant Khejroliya as a replacement for the injured Prithviraj Yarra. As the new season approaches, the team is focusing on stability and building on its strong past performances.On Tuesday, captain Shubman Gill stressed the importance of staying composed and trusting the team. “I think I’m just being myself, and the calmness comes from a sense of belief and security that I have within my group and in my own game,” Gill said.
He explained how staying calm helps decision-making, adding, “Staying calm in any situation gives you an eagle-eye view, you’re able to look beyond the moment, see the bigger picture, and have a much clearer, long-term vision.”Gujarat Titans, who have been consistent performers since joining the IPL, are aiming to continue that success under Gill’s leadership.The team management has largely stuck with its core group, making only minor changes. Director of Cricket Vikram Solanki said, “As far as this season is concerned and putting a squad together, we had a really good year last year. We just fell at the final hurdle. We made very small changes at the auction, it just needed a little bit of adjustment.”He added, “There were five players who came in, and Matthew Hayden has joined us as well. The work is essentially shared among all of us, and we all try to work very hard. We are mindful of supporting these players as best as we can.”Gujarat Titans will start their IPL 2026 campaign against Punjab Kings on March 31, followed by their first home game against Rajasthan Royals on April 4, entering the season with confidence and a clear plan.
Iran’s men’s national football team has trained in southern Turkey as the players gear up for two crucial pre-World Cup friendlies.
Their preparations are unfolding against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tension, with the squad anticipated to attract significant attention amid the US-Israeli war on Iran.
The team conducted a training session in Belek, a resort area near Antalya, under stringent media restrictions.
Officials stated the measure was to prevent distractions ahead of matches deemed vital for their World Cup readiness.
This cautious approach aligns with recent revelations from federation President Mehdi Taj, who last week confirmed discussions with Fifa regarding relocating Iran’s World Cup fixtures from the United States to Mexico due to player safety concerns.
This follows a warning from US president Donald Trump that it would not be “appropriate” for Iran to play in this summer’s tournament.
The Iranian camp has largely sought to maintain a low public profile, anticipating intense political and media scrutiny as the tournament approaches.
In Belek, no interviews with players or coaches were granted, with a team media representative emphasising the squad’s complete focus on their immediate competitive programme.
The team is scheduled to face Nigeria on Friday and Costa Rica on Tuesday in Antalya, fixtures that were originally planned for Jordan but moved to Turkey following the outbreak of the Iran war.
While players appeared relaxed during the sunny training session, with staff and team members observed chatting and joking, individual controversies have recently emerged.
Forward Mehdi Taremi faced scrutiny after swapping shirts with an Israeli opponent while playing for his club, Olympiacos, in Greece.
Separately, prolific striker Sardar Azmoun, who boasts 57 goals in 91 internationals, was omitted from the squad.
Iranian media reported his exclusion stemmed from a perceived act of disloyalty to the government, following an Instagram post featuring him meeting Dubai’s ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
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Reports that first surfaced in January saying Bill Belichick would not be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame sparked strong reactions across the sports world.
Despite winning two Super Bowls as an assistant and six as Patriots coach, Belichick reportedly fell short of the Hall of Fame’s 50-vote threshold, raising questions about the voting process. The Pro Football Hall of Fame unveiled its 2026 class at NFL Honors — a list that did not include Belichick.
ESPN reported that Belichick was initially “puzzled” and “disappointed” by his omission and questioned what more he needed to do to be inducted immediately. While Belichick has largely avoided publicly addressing his Hall of Fame status, he offered a measured response Tuesday when asked about the controversy.
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North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick with the team before the game at Kenan Stadium. (Bob Donnan/Imagn Images)
“I’m focused on coaching this team and focused on getting Carolina football to the highest level I can. That’s what I’ve always… I focus about what I can do, and things that are not in my control, I don’t worry about,” he told reporters as North Carolina opened spring camp.
UNC GM MICHAEL LOMBARDI CLAIMS ‘FAKE STORIES’ HELPED UNDERMINE BILL BELICHICK’S DEBUT SEASON
Belichick led North Carolina to a 4-8 record in his first season coaching in Chapel Hill, but a string of off-field headlines largely overshadowed the program.
During last year’s widely discussed “CBS Sunday Morning” interview, Jordon Hudson faced accusations that she attempted to exert control during the former NFL coach’s sit-down. The interview was part of a promotional tour for Belichick’s new book, “The Art of Winning: Lessons from My Life in Football.” Hudson, 24, has drawn attention for dating 73-year-old Belichick for more than two years.
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick and girlfriend Jordon Hudson look on from the sideline vs TCU at Kenan Memorial Stadium. (Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
The viral moment sparked questions about Hudson’s involvement in both his personal and professional life and whether it could affect football operations.
Belichick has previously dismissed the increased attention on his personal life. “Sometimes it’s noisy, and sometimes it isn’t,” he told ESPN last summer. “Sometimes with the Patriots it was noisy, too.”
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick directs his team during the game against Charlotte in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sept. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
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Earlier this month, UNC general manager Michael Lombardi recently addressed the scrutiny and outside criticism that surrounded the program last season, defending the team’s response amid what he characterized as inaccurate accounts.
“All during those stormy times, all during when the boat was getting capsized, when people were attacking us with fake rumors and fake stories all over — nobody’s corrected them yet, but that’s OK, we understand — our players hung together,” Lombardi told the “Pat McAfee Show”.
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Moses Itauma hopes to take his next step towards a world heavyweight title this weekend, as he fights Jermaine Franklin in Manchester.
Itauma is seen as one of Britain’s top prospects in boxing, with the 21-year-old having already built a 13-0 professional record including 11 knockouts.
Last time out, he made remarkably short work of Dillian Whyte, stopping the veteran in just 119 seconds in Saudi Arabia. But the Kent youngster is back on home soil this weekend, taking on an American opponent in Manchester.
Franklin (24-2, 15 KOs) actually has his own history with Whyte, having lost a controversial decision to the Briton in 2022 before losing to Anthony Joshua on points in 2023. Yet those defeats are the only losses of the 32-year-old’s career, and he is seen as a sensible test for Itauma, whose injury in January forced this bout to be pushed back by two months.
Here’s all you need to know.
When is the fight?
Itauma vs Franklin will take place on Saturday 28 March at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester. The main card is due to begin at 5pm BST (10am PT / 12pm CT / 1pm ET), with main-event ring walks expected at 11pm BST (4pm PT / 6pm CT / 7pm ET).
How can I watch it?
The event will stream live exclusively on DAZN worldwide. You can purchase a DAZN subscription here, with plans starting at £15.99 per month.
Odds
Itauma is a short-priced favourite on all the major betting sites to win Saturday’s bout with Franklin a massive underdog, according to the bookies.
Itauma – 1/20
Franklin – 10/1
Draw – 20/1
Odds via Betway.
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Fight card in full
Subject to change
Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin (heavyweight)
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Nathan Heaney vs Gerome Warburton (middleweight)
Ezra Taylor vs Willy Hutchinson (light-heavyweight)
Shakiel Thompson vs Brad Pauls (middleweight)
Liam Davies vs Francesco Grandelli (featherweight)
Alex Murphy vs Josh Holmes (lightweight)
Michael Gomez Jr vs Jordan Flynn (lightweight)
We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
There’s no question Ohio State’s Arvell Reese is one of the best overall players in this draft class. They don’t make many athletes with the size (6-foot-4, 241 pounds), speed (4.47-second 40-yard dash) and positional versatility Reese brings. He finished 2025 with 6.5 sacks and 69 total tackles.
However, the history of players with similar versatility traits isn’t exactly encouraging in the NFL. Isaiah Simmons is on his third team in six seasons, Zaven Collins hasn’t found his footing in Arizona, and plenty of others have struggled to fit at the next level.
While I think Reese is different from those players — there’s a difference between “positionless” and “versatile” — there are still questions about where he plays in the NFL.
More importantly, there’s the financial angle. The fifth-year options and franchise tags for EDGE and off-ball linebacker are the same, but the highest-paid EDGE (Micah Parsons) makes $46.5 million per year — more than the top two off-ball linebackers (Fred Warner and Roquan Smith) combined. Even average EDGE rushers carry more value financially, so if Reese wants to cash in, playing on the edge could be the way to go.
But does that best align with what he does on the field? Let’s dive into the film.
Reese’s power pops immediately on the edge
The first thing that stands out when Reese lines up on the edge is how violent he is with his hands. Players who walk down from off-ball linebacker typically don’t play as heavy-handed as Reese does. He packs serious power into his punches as both a run defender and pass rusher, generating a ton of force for someone who would be considered undersized on the edge.
You can’t block him with a tight end — he’ll obliterate them in the run game. He forklifts players on the edge, using strong pad level to close gaps and funnel backs into traffic. This Illinois tight end stood no chance, getting manhandled into the very gap the running back was attacking.
Watch the Miami tight end’s head snap back on contact. There’s playing with force, and then there’s what Reese showed in his final year at Ohio State. He wrecks the rep with pure power.
This rep against Penn State’s left tackle isn’t perfect, but the force jumps out. His head is down on contact, but his body angle is excellent. He’s in position to stack and shed because he’s attacking with leverage, generating force through his body into the tackle’s chest so he can make a play.
His pass-rush upside is both exciting — and incomplete
Where the rubber really meets the road is Reese’s potential as a pass rusher. Despite being undersized, he generates serious power. You’d expect an off-ball linebacker moving to the edge to win with speed and bend, but Reese’s go-to is converting speed to power and running through tackles.
This is what you would call getting dunked on in the football world:
Here, he faces fellow draft prospect Markel Bell (6-foot-9, 346 pounds) and still turns him with power, prying open the outside corner. The ball comes out before he arrives, but it’s a strong rep that shows what he can already do as a pass rusher.
Again, Reese displaces Illinois’ right tackle with power, knocking him off his feet. It’s not a perfect rep or finish, but it highlights how much force he generates in a 241-pound frame.
Reese also showcases the ability to counter with speed. His pass-rush repertoire is still limited, but the flashes of bend and acceleration are reminiscent of top NFL rushers. Ohio State even schemed one-on-one opportunities, where he would do this to opposing tackles:
While he gets the sack on that rep, another better illustrates his upside. He sells the bull rush, then dips around the outside shoulder and flattens to the quarterback. That’s the kind of nuance he needs to build on.
The issue right now is consistency. He doesn’t have many reliable counters, which makes sense given his background as an off-ball linebacker who also drops into coverage. If he transitions full-time to the edge, his development as a pass rusher may take time.
He could improve by using his hands more actively — swiping at tackles to create cleaner rush paths and turn more pass rush reps into pressures. Against Wisconsin, for example, the tackle sets to cut off the edge. Reese needs to either club the outside hand or counter inside, but he does neither and loses the rep. A more detailed pass-rush plan will be key going up against NFL tackles.
Another area for growth is stringing moves together when his initial rush stalls. That will come with reps and coaching. The upside is clear, but right now he’s a better run defender than pass rusher off the edge.
Reese might be more polished off the ball right now
As an off-ball linebacker, Reese’s violent hands and fluidity really stand out. Even in a defense loaded with megazord athletes, he consistently pops on tape. He simply puts guys on their butts when they try to block him. His explosiveness moving downhill is a delight to watch, and his hand placement and ability to forklift defenders immediately jump off the tape. Just ask this Penn State tight end:
OUCH. His ability to generate force allows him to lift blockers out of the way and stay square to the line of scrimmage while working through traffic. He’s comfortable operating in tight spaces and consistently finds the ball.
One rep against Michigan highlights his instincts. The Buckeyes are in a five-man front, with Reese aligned as the stack linebacker. The defensive lineman in front of him plays his primary gap with the ability to fall back into his secondary, and Reese has to mirror that from depth to keep everyone on a string. He fits into the primary gap, then recognizes the running back bounce to the secondary as the tight end tries to get hands on him. Reese slips underneath the block and closes to make the stop — a great example of his high-level processing and movement ability.
In the passing game, his ceiling is also high — especially as a blitzer. His power translates immediately, as shown when he drives a Texas right tackle back and forces Arch Manning out of the pocket.
Reese is a mismatch against running backs in pass protection and can be used as a penetrator on pass-rush games, using his size and speed to collide with offensive linemen and free up rushers. You can also design looks for him to play iso ball against RBs, where he can crush the pocket.
The main area for improvement off the ball is his spatial awareness in coverage. He has the range and athleticism, but his recognition once receivers enter his zone can improve. He recorded just two pass deflections in his career, rarely getting his hands on the football. Better angles could help — like on a near-play against Wisconsin that could have been an interception.
That said, there are reps where he shows potential. Against Penn State running a Dagger concept, he drops as the middle defender in Cover 2, carries the vertical route, then sinks to disrupt the dig and force a checkdown. That’s the upside.
The biggest question: Where does Reese actually fit in the NFL?
So what is Reese at the next level — linebacker or EDGE? The answer is both. He’s a true hybrid, but not in a way that leaves him without a position. He can be a skeleton key who answers many questions for a modern defense, allowing it to shift fronts and personnel without substituting. Think about what the Eagles do with Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell — players with the size to play on the edge and the movement skills to stack without being liabilities in coverage. That kind of true versatility is becoming increasingly valuable in the NFL.
If you’re asking where he makes the most immediate impact, it’s probably as an off-ball linebacker. His coverage still needs refinement, but as a run defender and blitzer, he already fits what modern defenses want.
Still, he shouldn’t be boxed in. Let him dictate fronts and structures — that’s how he blossoms into the centerpiece of a modern NFL defense.
Moses Itauma is getting closer. The serious part of his boxing career will start at about 11pm on Saturday in Manchester, when his ring apprenticeship ends and the real fights begin.
This weekend, Itauma meets American Jermaine Franklin, a veteran of 26 fights but still a young man in the heavyweight business at 32, and whose only two losses are more relevant than any of his 24 wins; there is a subtle difference between winning in risk-free fights and losing in fights where you have no chance.
Franklin is tough, tested, rested, and the type of seasoned and underestimated fighter that could beat any boxer on any given night. Itauma is still only 21, a wide-eyed kid in a division of dangerous old men, and he is also one of the most hyped fighters in the modern business.
The hype started when he was still a schoolboy (at 16, he showed up to spar with the world’s best heavyweights in his school uniform) and has continued through his 13 professional fights. The Franklin fight is the first real test, a bout where Moses might have to go into the heavyweight unknown; Franklin’s two losses were over the full 12-round distance, to Dillian Whyte and Anthony Joshua.
So far, Itauma has done everything right in a ring apprenticeship that launched with bold claims that he would win a world heavyweight title at a younger age than Mike Tyson. Luckily, that storyline vanished, and Itauma could get on with learning, winning, and growing as an adult and a boxer. Itauma has often talked about his sacrifices to get where he is – he lost his teenage years to the gym and his chosen profession.
In Itauma’s last fight, he travelled to Saudi Arabia in August and dropped and stopped the ghost of Whyte in just 119 seconds; we had no idea that Whyte would be beaten so quickly. It was a real message, and what was needed was a strong man, a man with a credible record and a man who posed a risk, but not a threat: Franklin is ideal, and this might just be one of Frank Warren’s greatest pieces of matchmaking.
Franklin is in many ways the last of a once-essential heavyweight breed; he is the real definition of a journeyman fighter, a man who poses problems and can educate the boxers that beat him. He can also deliver a career-shattering loss, and last September in Las Vegas, he beat double Olympic medalist Ivan Dychko, who was unbeaten in 15 as a professional with 14 knockouts.
For context, there is no way that Itauma would have been matched with Dychko on that night. Franklin is a danger, and Itauma knows that very well; young Moses has a smart head for boxing and does not believe the hype.
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There is bold talk of world titles later this year, and even Oleksandr Usyk has entered the Itauma debate; the great Ukrainian has said he will not fight him because he doesn’t “want to break him”. The rest of the heavyweights have all welcomed the challenge.
Itauma is also on his way to becoming, assuming he beats Franklin, one of the sport’s major cash cows. Itauma is a boxing baby, but he fights like a veteran, and that is a contradiction that might just elevate him from schoolboy menace to world heavyweight champion. The real road to glory for the kid from Kent starts on Saturday night.
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The Cincinnati Bengals added key depth behind Joe Burrow on Wednesday.
The Bengals announced that they re-signed 41-year-old quarterback Joe Flacco to a one-year deal. The contract is for $6 million, but is worth up to $9 million with incentives, according to ESPN.
“I love the building,” Flacco told the team website. “I enjoyed being there, and I’m excited about being back with the fellas.”
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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco warms up before a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, on Dec. 7, 2025. (Mark Konezny/Imagn Images)
The Bengals acquired Flacco after he was benched by the Cleveland Browns after four starts. Burrow was hurt at the time, and Jake Browning, who was the backup before Flacco arrived, had underwhelmed.
Flacco made six starts for the Bengals and played well, despite the team having a 1-5 record in that span. He completed 61.7% of his passes for 1,664 yards with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions, and the Bengals offense averaged more than 27 points per game.
Making Flacco’s performance more impressive, he played through a sprained AC joint in his shoulder with the Bengals.
Flacco was looking to find a starting job in free agency, but after not getting one, he struggled with the reality that he might not play at all.
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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco warms up before the Steelers game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Nov. 16, 2025. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)
“I don’t know what Plan A was. It’s tough to kind of say exactly what that looked like, so you kind of just have to go with the flow a little bit,” Flacco said. “I have good feelings there. The hardest thing for me is probably coming to grips with the fact that I might not play.”
The veteran quarterback didn’t want a repeat of last season with the Browns, when he was benched for rookie Dillon Gabriel after four games.
“I felt like I had to be careful with some certain decisions. I don’t want to be in another situation where I’m going and playing four games like I did last year in Cleveland. I was a little bit nervous about that for whatever reason, and kind of getting thrown under the bus. I think there was a time to be that guy, but I don’t know if I was willing to do that. It just felt right in the gut,” Flacco said.
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Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco runs off the field before a field goal attempt against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Oct. 16, 2025. (Sam Greene/The Enquirer/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Flacco, at 41, is the oldest player to ever play for the Bengals.
He is 14th on the all-time passing yards list and just 1,824 yards away from 50,000.
In a perfect world for the Bengals, Flacco never steps on the field because that would mean Burrow remains healthy all season. However, if Burrow gets injured, they can trust that they have a capable backup who can lead the offense at a high level.
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