Bengals QB Flacco 50-50 for Bears Game After Shoulder Injury

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco is currently dealing with a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder, making his availability for the upcoming game against the Chicago Bears uncertain. Flacco sustained the injury late in the Bengals' narrow loss to the New York Jets, briefly leaving the game before returning to finish it, but head coach Zac Taylor has described his status as "day-to-day" and about 50-50 for Sunday. The 40-year-old has been performing well since joining the Bengals, completing over 64% of his passes with seven touchdowns and no interceptions in three starts, providing a spark to the offense amid Joe Burrow's season-ending turf toe injury. If Flacco cannot play, backup Jake Browning, who has struggled with turnovers in his previous starts, would likely start. The Bears, already missing key cornerbacks, face a challenging matchup against Cincinnati's potent receiving corps, adding urgency to the Bengals' quarterback situation. Flacco's potential absence could significantly impact the Bengals' chances as they seek to rebound from their recent loss and improve their 3-5 record.