Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco, acquired Oct. 7 in a trade with the Cleveland Browns, threw his first few passes on the practice field adjacent to Paycor Stadium ahead of the team’s NFL Week 6 game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor announced earlier in the day that Flacco will be the team’s starting QB against Green Bay, replacing Jake Browning.
Flacco led the Browns to a Week 3 win against the Packers, Cleveland’s only victory in five games this season.
Earlier, the Bengals shared video of the No. 16 jersey Flacco will wear.
Flacco started for Cleveland when the Bengals defeated the Browns in Week 1. The AFC North rivals are scheduled to meet again in Week 18 at Paycor Stadium.
Video of Flacco’s first practice as a Bengals, from Dan Hoard via Twitter/X:
“We’ll start him this week so he’s going to take all of the reps.” – Zac Taylor pic.twitter.com/FeGzlpRzp3
— Dan Hoard (@Dan_Hoard) October 8, 2025
Flacco walking to practice, from The Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway:
First look at Joe Flacco in a Bengals uniform heading to practice #Bengalspic.twitter.com/0XU1zib02v
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) October 8, 2025
ESPN analysts Marcus Spears and Dan Orlovsky insisted that switching from Jake Browning to Joe Flacco at quarterback would not be an upgrade.
If Flacco starts in Week 7 on Thursday Night Football, he could face 41-year-old Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the only active starting QB older than Flacco.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Joe Flacco throws first passes as Bengals quarterback at practice
