Bears Could Catch Major Break vs. Bengals Amid Recent News
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The Chicago Bears could catch a major break with the recent injury news surrounding Cincinnati Bengals' quarterback Joe Flacco.
The Chicago Bears are heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals with a renewed sense of optimism, and it has everything to do with the health status of Bengals starting quarterback Joe Flacco.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Flacco is dealing with an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder, putting his availability for this week “up in the air.” While Bengals head coach Zac Taylor labeled his veteran quarterback as “day-to-day,” the potential absence of Flacco could dramatically shift the outlook of this game.
Bears Could Catch a Major Break with Joe Flacco’s Injury Status
GettyCincinnati Bengals’ quarterback Joe Flacco #16.
Flacco has been one of the most important additions to Cincinnati’s offense this season. After starting the year with the Cleveland Browns, he was traded to the Bengals in a midseason move that sent a 2025 fifth-round pick to Cleveland in exchange for Flacco and a 2026 sixth-round selection.
The former Super Bowl MVP quickly found himself starting for a second AFC North team in one season, and he hasn’t disappointed.
Since taking over, Flacco has delivered steady, poised football. Across three appearances, he has completed 64.3% of his throws for 784 yards, seven touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Those numbers reflect not only his efficiency but also his experience in protecting the football and making winning plays.
Without question, Flacco represents Cincinnati’s best chance at maintaining their offensive flow. A shoulder sprain, however, brings serious doubt to his reliability for Sunday, especially when it’s on his throwing arm.
If he sits or is limited, it could create a major advantage for a Bears’ defense that could use all the help they can get.
Jake Browning Starting Would Give Chicago a Noticeably Easier Matchup
GettyIvan Pace Jr. #0 of the Minnesota Vikings tackles Jake Browning #6 of the Cincinnati Bengals.
If Flacco can’t suit up Sunday, the Bengals will turn back to QB Jake Browning, who hasn’t been as impressive as Flacco.
In four starts this year, Browning completed 64.5% of his passes for 757 yards, six touchdowns, and eight interceptions. While the completion rate nearly mirrors Flacco’s, the drastically different TD-to-INT ratio tells the real story. Instead of providing stability while Joe Burrow recovers, Browning often gave opposing defenses opportunities.
Under head coach Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, the Bears’ defense are not just one of the best at creating turnovers, they are the best. Chicago currently leads the NFL with 16 turnovers, and they don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
If Cincinnati’s offense starts to sputter with Browning under center, it would make it easier for a defense that feasts on creating takeaways.
From a strategic standpoint, the Bears would much rather face Browning than a red-hot Flacco, who has yet to throw an interception in a Bengals uniform. The Bengals can only hope their veteran savior can suit up, but if the shoulder injury holds him back, the Bears suddenly gain a huge edge.
Stephen Jones Sends Bold Message on Cowboys’ Trade Deadline Plans
The Dallas Cowboys are all in on the 2025 NFL season. But they’ll also consider moving players off their roster to address areas of need.
Stephen Jones, the Cowboys executive vice president and CEO, addressed why the Cowboys would be considered both buyers and sellers ahead of the NFL Trade Deadline on Tuesday.
The Cowboys (3-4-1) are in second place in the NFC East and sit 2.5 games behind the first-place Philadelphia Eagles. They’re just 1.5 games back of the San Francisco 49ers for the final NFC playoff spot.
Dallas will host the Arizona Cardinals (2-5) on Monday Night Football mere hours before the 4 p.m. ET deadline.
Stephen Jones: ‘Sometimes Player For Player [Trades] Can Be Very Interesting’
The Cowboys have one of the best offenses in the NFL. They rank first in the NFL in passing-yards per game (263.8), second in yards per game (384.1) and points per game (30.8).
Yet, Dallas is middling due to its woeful defense. The Cowboys are 31st in the NFL in yards-against per game (404.6) and points-against per game (31.3) and have allowed at least 30 points in five of their eight games this season.
So Jones knows the Cowboys can use their strength on offense to potentially acquire defensive reinforcements.
“I think there’s a lot of things that go into us improving as a defense,” Jones told KTFM on Thursday. “If you can find a player that upgrades you, as I’ve always said, we’re always looking for that every year. Whether it’s by trade or whether it’s a player acquisition, it comes by a lot of shapes, forms and fashions.”
Cowboys fans may be incensed at the team’s scuffling defense, since the blockbuster Micah Parsons trade sapped the team of one of its most talented players. Still, according to Jones, there are deals to be made to improve.
“We have areas where we have depth, and sometimes player-for-player [trades] can be very interesting to us,” Jones said. “We’re also in consideration for giving up a player for us getting a pick and vice versa. It goes all ways.”
The Dallas Cowboys’ Game Against Arizona Is ‘A Big, Big Game’
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has never lost at AT&T Stadium, and Arizona has won three straight against Dallas dating back to 2020.
“What an amazing high-school career he had,” Jones said of Murray, who won three straight state championships while playing at Allen High School and also having a standout baseball career as well. “He’s just a competitor and a winner, and that’s our goal, to put that streak to an end. But I’m sure he’s going to have his competitive juices flowing coming back home to where all he won all those championships.”
Yet, the Cardinals have been struggling with five straight losses despite their minus-1 point differential. If the Cowboys have any illusions of making the playoffs in the much-improved NFC, Jones knows they’ll need to win at home — where they are 2-0-1 despite averaging 33 points per game.
“It’d be huge for us to get a win,” Jones said. “It’s a big, big game. I know it’s a big game for the Cardinals, but it’s a huge game for us as well.”
