Joe Flacco will officially start for the Bengals this Sunday in their matchup against the Packers. This announcement was made by head coach Zac Taylor during his Wednesday press conference, where he expressed his enthusiasm about having Flacco lead the team. “We’ve played him a lot and watched him closely. He brings great experience and leadership,” Taylor stated. “His style fits our play style, too, and I’m excited to see him in action.”
Flacco will take all the practice reps this week as he prepares to step onto the field with the Bengals. Taylor noted that Flacco has already spent considerable time with the coaching staff to familiarize himself with the team's offensive scheme. “I feel really good about where he’s at,” he added.
Despite having only met Flacco briefly before the Bengals acquired him, Taylor is confident in the quarterback's abilities due to his extensive experience in the league. Having coached against Flacco multiple times, including in Week 1 of the current season, Taylor feels well-equipped to integrate Flacco into the Bengals' system. “I’m very comfortable with his style and the concepts he excels at,” Taylor explained. “There’s a lot of terminology overlap that I didn’t expect, which will help us get him up to speed quickly.”
“He’s an exceptional passer,” Taylor continued, emphasizing the importance of expanding all facets of the offense. “We need to be efficient, improve our run game, and enhance our protection. The primary trait we seek is a quarterback who can effectively operate our system and deliver the football accurately. Joe has always been a tremendous passer in this league, and now we have fantastic weapons for him to utilize.”
On Tuesday, Bengals director of player personnel and acting general manager Duke Tobin approached Taylor about the potential trade for Flacco. “He asked for my opinion on Joe, and I was excited about the possibility,” Taylor recalled. “Once I learned the deal was finalized, I was onboard and thrilled.”
The Bengals facilitated Flacco's transition by arranging transportation for him and his wife from Cleveland to Cincinnati, allowing the coaching staff to start bringing him up to speed on the new playbook during the drive. With Flacco now on the roster, Taylor highlighted the confidence he can instill in the team until Joe Burrow is able to return in 2025. “He has been there and done that, winning a Super Bowl and achieving success in various situations,” Taylor said. “Bringing in someone with that level of experience is significant and can positively impact the team.”
Ultimately, Taylor reiterated that the Bengals’ primary goal is to win every game and to make a deep playoff run, regardless of who is playing quarterback. “Our focus is 100 percent on winning every game we can and pushing for the playoffs,” Taylor concluded. “That’s our mission, no matter who is under center.”
