Bengals No. 2 quarterback Joe Flacco, who turns 41 in two weeks, says he wants to continue playing next season in a 19th year in the NFL, and he’s open to a return as Joe Burrow’s backup.
“I’m not going to make that decision as soon as the season ends,” Flacco said after Thursday’s practice. “Depending on what’s out there, there’s a scenario where I’d be open to it.”
Flacco, preparing for the Browns team he started for Opening Day against the Bengals, racked up the numbers of an Opening Day starter during his stint here after the Oct. 7 trade from Cleveland.
In the span of his six Bengals starts, he threw the NFL’s third most touchdown passes, behind Matthew Stafford and Drake Maye and tied with Dak Prescott, and threw for the fifth most yards. His career-high 470 yards against the Bears at Paycor Stadium on Nov. 2 remains the biggest game in the league this season.
It doesn’t sound like it’s about the numbers. Flacco is 14th on the all-time passing yards list, just 1,824 shy of 50,000 yards, and he’s 21st on the all-time touchdown passes list, one back of Joe Montana’s 273. But he reiterated Thursday what he has said since he arrived. He just wants to play.
“Go into my 19th year. It’s what I do man,” Flacco said. “I’m a football player. Keep it going.”
