Listen to Fox News Articles Now!
In a surprising move, the Cleveland Browns have traded Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals, paving the way for rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders to elevate his position on the Browns’ depth chart as they approach Week 6. Currently, Dillon Gabriel, who recently made his NFL debut in London against the Minnesota Vikings, retains the starting role. With Flacco now joining the Bengals after being benched, Sanders steps in as the new backup as the Browns gear up to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road.
Deion Sanders, head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes and proud father of Shedeur, addressed the trade during his weekly press conference ahead of his team’s upcoming game. When asked about the Browns’ decision, he candidly replied, "I don’t care. I don’t give a darn about the Browns at all. I care about the Colorado Buffaloes. I love me some Shedeur Sanders, though, believe that. I care about him, and the rest of that mess I don’t. I’m a coach trying to win games just like they’re trying to win games. I could care less who they traded." Classic Coach Prime!
As for the Buffaloes, Deion Sanders is currently navigating a challenging season with a 2-4 record, following back-to-back losses against BYU and TCU. He’s eager to turn things around as they prepare to take on No. 22 Iowa State in Boulder this Saturday.
Deion has previously hinted that he expected Shedeur to see playing time during his rookie season but hasn’t specified a timeline. On the "New Heights" podcast, he shared with hosts Jason and Travis Kelce that he has a "feeling when it’s going to go down," encouraging his son to "be patient and be ready," expressing confidence that Shedeur’s moment will arrive.
In his inaugural start, Dillon Gabriel completed 19 of 33 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns, but the Browns fell short against the Vikings, losing 21-17 in a nail-biting finish. The Vikings clinched victory with a last-minute touchdown from Jordan Addison.
The Bengals, facing quarterback struggles after Jake Browning lost his first three starts in place of the injured Joe Burrow, sought a change and ultimately acquired Flacco. Burrow is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season, prompting Cincinnati to explore multiple options before opting for Flacco.
Flacco’s stint with the Browns was rocky, as he recorded a 1-3 record over four weeks, completing 58.1% of his passes for 815 yards, with two touchdowns and six interceptions. Despite his struggles, head coach Kevin Stefanski retained Flacco as a backup, allowing Sanders to move up the ranks.
While it remains uncertain whether Flacco will start immediately for the Bengals, it’s anticipated that he will take over the role from Browning after three consecutive losses.
Stay updated with Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter for all the latest in sports news.
Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
