The Cincinnati Bengals are turning to veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to stabilize their offense in Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers. But the veteran quarterback may not have been their first choice.

The Bengals traded a 2026 fifth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday for Flacco and a 2026 sixth-round selection. During a discussion about Flacco and the Bengals on ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown,” reporter Adam Schefter said the Bengals were constrained by salary cap limitations from paying both wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, limiting them from getting veteran quarterback options such as Giants backup Russell Wilson or Atlanta Falcons backup Kirk Cousins .

Schefter said the Bengals reached out to several teams, including the Eagles and the Baltimore

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