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With Cincinnati Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrows’ return from injury seemingly imminent, Joe Flacco knows his days as a starting quarterback in the NFL may be coming to an end.
Flacco, 40, was acquired by the Bengals from the Cleveland Browns after backup quarterback Jake Browning struggled in his three starts this season. Despite Flacco’s success, Burrow was a full participant in Wednesday and Thursday’s practices, signaling what could be Flacco’s final start with Cincinnati.
“It’s kind of in your head to a certain extent,” Flacco said of the possibility that Sunday could be his last scheduled start with the Bengals, according to ESPN.
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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) warms up before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on November 16, 2025. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)
“But I’m really not too concerned about it. I think as long as I just keep my head down and continue to prepare like I am and then act a little oblivious to it, then it will be the best for me.”
The Super Bowl champion quarterback said his solid run with the Bengals reinforced his belief that he can still go out and play as a starter for a team.
“Hopefully it reinforces it in somebody’s mind that I can do it,” Flacco said. “I still want to do it. I still feel like I can do it. This obviously helps with the confidence to be able to do it and all that.”
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Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Flacco sits on the bench before an NFL football game between the Green Bay Packers and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Matt Ludtke/AP Photo)
“I’d like to have an opportunity, but you just never know.”
Flacco started four games with the Browns before being benched for rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel. In those four games, he completed just 58.1% of his passes for 815 yards with two touchdowns and six interceptions.
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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) throws a pass against the Chicago Bears in the second quarter at Paycor Stadium on Nov. 2, 2025. (Katie Stratman/Imagn Images)
With the Bengals, the 40-year-old has completed 63.4% of his passes for 1,453 yards with 12 touchdowns and three interceptions.
The Bengals fell to 3-7 after losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers and face steep odds to make the playoffs and need to get hot down the stretch to give themselves a shot at making the playoffs.
Their next game is a key one against the New England Patriots (9-2) on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
