Ben Child
CINCINNATI — Zac Taylor's first sentence to new quarterback Joe Flacco was a welcome to the Cincinnati Bengals. The second sentence from the staff's coach? Prepare to start out Sunday.
Flacco was cemented because the staff's new beginning quarterback sooner or later after the Bengals efficiently accomplished a uncommon intradivision commerce Tuesday. Cincinnati despatched a 2026 fifth-round draft decide to the Cleveland Browns in change for Flacco and a 2026 sixth-round draft choice.
When the staff walked out for observe Wednesday, Flacco wore his new No. 16 jersey and began the method of getting acclimated for the upcoming recreation in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
“He'll take all of the reps and prepare to go,” Taylor mentioned throughout his information convention Wednesday.
This would be the second time in 4 weeks that Flacco begins a recreation in opposition to the Packers. He began in opposition to Inexperienced Bay in Week 3 because the Browns' quarterback, and Cleveland gained 13-10.
The Packers definitely weren't anticipating to see Flacco once more this season. Quarterback Jordan Love did not say precisely what he mentioned to Flacco after their recreation in Cleveland, however he is aware of what he did not say.
“It was not, ‘See you in a couple of weeks,'” Love mentioned Wednesday. “I used to be not anticipating that one. However that is how the NFL is, man. Loopy stuff occurs. Clearly, it is in all probability bizarre for the protection going up in opposition to him, fairly shut timeline. We'll see. It will be attention-grabbing for him. New staff. New state of affairs. We'll see.”
Inexperienced Bay will face Flacco twice in a three-game stretch. They've solely performed one recreation, their Week 4 tie in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys, because the Cleveland recreation as a result of they'd their bye final week.
“I can say that I do not suppose exterior of a division recreation, I've ever seen the identical quarterback on a unique staff,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur mentioned. “So, it's going to be attention-grabbing.”
There could be a couple of issues the Packers defensive gamers can take from the Browns recreation.
“You decide up the little issues that sort of make a quarterback a quarterback,” Packers security Evan Williams mentioned. “The distinctive little footwork that he has. Is he a man that appears you off in the course of the sphere? Is he a man that's cellular sufficient? Clearly Flacco's not, on this case, however yeah … these issues differ from quarterback to quarterback, so that you attempt to take as a lot of these distinctive particulars as you may and switch that into this recreation. However on the similar time, you perceive that it is utterly new scheme, a very new quantity of weapons that he is utilizing.
“I am assuming that they will in all probability simply attempt to get the ball out of his palms fast into some playmakers that they bought and he would not have too lengthy of a time to study an entire system, so we're undoubtedly anticipating it to be fairly rudimentary so far as scheme goes, however you carry the little particulars that he has individually, however most of that does not switch over.”
Flacco additionally performed in opposition to his present membership this season as effectively. He was 31-of-45 passing for 290 yards, 1 landing and a couple of interceptions in a 17-16 loss in opposition to the Bengals in Week 1.
Cincinnati (2-3) opted to make the change at quarterback after Jake Browning struggled in Joe Burrow's absence. With Burrow on injured reserve whereas recovering from surgical procedure to restore a turf toe harm on his left foot, Cincinnati has misplaced three straight video games, with Browning beginning all of them. Taylor confirmed that Browning will return to his standing because the backup, with former Packer Sean Clifford holding the function because the reserve quarterback on the observe squad.
“Welcome to professional soccer,” Browning mentioned after Wednesday's observe. “You are going to get changed. That is what I am going by means of. The final theme for myself is anyone that's going by means of some adversity, whether or not it is soccer or private stuff, when you undergo it and take care of it the fitting method, there is no method you do not come out the opposite finish a greater model of who you might be.
“For me, it is clearly about responding the fitting method. Clearly, I am pissed. And if I wasn't pissed, then I should not be on this locker room.”
Bengals de facto common supervisor Duke Tobin knowledgeable Taylor on Tuesday that the staff was going to have the ability to land Flacco. Taylor mentioned Tobin sought his opinion on the opportunity of including the 40-year-old veteran. Taylor gave Tobin his full approval, he mentioned, earlier than Tobin finalized the method of executing the commerce.
After the transfer was accomplished, the Bengals despatched a automotive to Cleveland to drive Flacco down Interstate 71 to Cincinnati. The Bengals additionally transferred over paperwork for Flacco to check as Taylor known as him on the cellphone to go over primary tenets of Cincinnati's offense.
The additional advantage of Flacco's latest expertise of taking part in the Packers this season needs to be useful because the Bengals journey to Lambeau Discipline this weekend.
“A minimum of the one benefit we do have with bringing Joe Flacco in right here particularly is he is watched tape for per week,” Taylor mentioned. “He is performed this recreation. He'll nonetheless must do the identical factor, as a result of they performed two video games since then, however on the similar time, it is not less than there behind his thoughts.”
Flacco is just not scheduled to talk to reporters till Friday, as he takes each accessible minute to prepare for his pending Bengals debut. Taylor didn't have a timetable for Burrow's return as he continues his restoration course of. However within the meantime, Cincinnati is hopeful Flacco may be the elevate wanted to finish a three-game skid and preserve the Bengals in playoff competition for so long as doable this season.
“Our No. 1 focus is successful each recreation we are able to presumably win and go to the playoffs and go deep within the playoffs,” Taylor mentioned. “That's 100% our focus, no matter who our quarterback is. That is what we're attempting to do.”
ESPN's Rob Demovsky contributed to this report.
