The Cincinnati Bengals got off to the hot start they were seeking this season, winning their first two games, but it’s been all downhill since then. Star quarterback Joe Burrow went down with a turf toe injury, and it’s been tough sledding for Cincinnati ever since.
The offense was appallingly bad under quarterback Jake Browning in place of Burrow, leading the Bengals to trade with the Cleveland Browns to acquire veteran Joe Flacco, who the Browns had benched in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel.
Since Flacco’s arrival, the Bengals’ offense has been arguably the best unit in the league. Unfortunately, Cincinnati’s defense has been arguably the worst unit in the league, and the Bengals are 1-3 with Flacco in charge.
Now, in a move to reset and take some time away from the team’s struggles over the Bengals’ bye week, Flacco has stepped away from the team and joined his family in New Jersey, per one team insider.
“Joe Flacco is back home in New Jersey with his family today. Following the whirlwind the past month, Zac Taylor gave the veteran QB today & tomorrow off from the meetings and tomorrow’s practice before the Bengals bye week officially starts,” Charlie Clifford reported on Monday.
“Health wise it sounds like the throwing shoulder came out okay from Sunday vs the Bears.”
It’ll be interesting to see if the Bengals end up regretting not having Flacco around for all of the practices, especially considering he only joined the organization in the middle of the season.
It’ll also be tough for the Bengals to lose any veteran presence with the locker room seemingly on the brink of collapse.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.