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.
Raiders’ Brock Bowers Gets Strong Words Before Jaguars Game
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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Las Vegas Raiders have only had a healthy Brock Bowers for one game, which was their Week 1 contest against the New England Patriots. Since then, he’s dealt with a knee injury.
Bowers did his best to play through the injury despite the injury as he wore a brace. However, eventually, the Raiders coaching staff shut him down for a couple of weeks to truly get healthy.
Now, coming off a bye week, all signs point to Bowers potentially playing against the Jacksonville Jaguars. With the Raiders having arguably their best offensive weapon out on the field in Week 9, Jaguars head coach Liam Coen spoke about facing the young tight end.
“I think you look at last year and early in the season,” Coen told reporters about preparing to potentially face Bowers. “The first play of the season against the Patriots, they got him the ball on the very first play. When he’s healthy and available, he’s someone they definitely want to get the ball in his hands.
As you go throughout the work week, you see, all right, where’s 89?
“We’ve got to make sure we understand where he is because he’s in the hip at tight end, he’s in an inline stance, he’s in the slot, he’s out at one. They want to move him around as the weapon that he is. I think we don’t want to say overprepare, but definitely lean more toward expecting them to get him going.”
Raiders Will Have to Worry About Travis Hunter
Still, Coen isn’t the only coach gearing up to contain a rising young offensive threat. In their upcoming matchup with Jacksonville, the Raiders
will have to deal with two-way standout Travis Hunter. Ahead of the Week 9 game, head coach Pete Carroll shared his thoughts on going up against the impressive rookie.
“He’s not just a good fast kid that can play ball,”
Carroll said on a recent episode of “1 on 1.” “He’s got great instincts. That’s why he could play on both sides of the football. I remember asking him at the combine, ‘Are you worried about playing both ways?
“That’s the kind of guy who has the savvy and awareness that make him unique and special, and why they went so hard after getting him. He’s the centerpiece of their offense and, in particular, defense. Maybe they’re cutting back a little on that, but offensively, he did really well last week. He’s not just a catch guy; he’s a catch-and-run guy, and he blocks, too. He’s got a good mentality about him.”
Jaguars Will Need to Prepare for a New Raiders Player
The Jaguars will see a new face in a Raiders uniform when they take the field. On October 27, Las Vegas announced the signing of veteran wide receiver Tyler Lockett, reuniting him with Pete Carroll and quarterback Geno Smith.
Lockett began the 2025 NFL season with the Tennessee Titans but requested his release, which was granted on October 20. Before Lockett’s possible debut with the Raiders, Carroll spoke about reuniting with the former Seattle Seahawks standout.
“High hopes for him and high hopes for us that we can make a good connection here, “ Carroll said on the latest episode of “1 on 1.”
“It’s a lot to ask a guy to jump in and be a regular player in a week’s time, but he’s going for it and we’ll see what happens by the end of the week. He’s in here over the weekend as soon as he found out that he was going to be a Raider.
“He’s a marvelous football player and a tremendous person; he’s one of the real natural ball players—he’s got great sense and feel and has always demonstrated that. Geno knows him really well. They’ve played together for quite some time, and there’s a chemistry between them that
maybe can give us a little edge that we haven’t had with the younger guys who have been playing.
“We’ll see what happens and hold out good hopes for this to help us. I’m really excited for Tyler to be with us again, in a place where people love him, know who he is and what he’s all about, and hopefully our fans will be able to see that.”
Browns Unexpected QB ‘Wrinkle’ Could Be Bad News for Shedeur Sanders
Much has been made about the Cleveland Browns quarterback situation and the potential of Shedeur Sanders replacing Dillon Gabriel as the starting quarterback for the 2-6 squad.
However, Ashley Bastock of cleveland.com could see practice squad Bailey Zappe and Deshaun Watson as complicating “wrinkles” in Cleveland’s eternally messy quarterback situation.
The Browns signed Zappe ahead of the season and
Watson is recovering from a twice-ruptured Achilles and is on the PUP list. He’s expected to be evaluated during the bye week, and the Browns will have to make a decision on whether or not to open his 21-day window for a return.
“I think there is another wrinkle that could happen. There are two other guys in that room,” Bastock said on 92.3 The Fan. I know no one wants to have the Deshaun Watson conversation but what if we come back from this bye week and they’re talking about opening his practice window? The reality is, they didn’t shut Deshaun Watson down for the entire year.
“Bailey Zappe is there. He’s started a football game for them. Shedeur is the backup quarterback when healthy, but you can never say never with this team and their quarterbacks, especially with two other veteran guys — that’s something to keep in mind, for sure.”
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Dealing With Back Injury
As the depth chart is currently constructed, Sanders would be the next logical option for the Browns if Gabriel continues to struggle. Through four starts, Gabriel is 1-3 and has passed for 702 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions. What’s been concerning about Gabriel’s play is his lack of playmaking ability, averaging just 4.9 yards per attempt.
An unexpected factor for Sanders was a sudden back injury he suffered ahead of Week 8. He tested it pregame but the Browns decided to hold Sanders out. The fifth-round pick has made it clear that it wasn’t his decision not to suit up.
“He obviously came in Saturday with his back injury. We were hopeful that he’d be able to move around well enough to suit up on Sunday. But, put him through a pre-game warm up, and obviously just didn’t feel like he was ready to play,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “But he’s getting better every day and I’m hopeful that he’ll continue to improve.”
Stefanski also said that his “focus” is not on Sanders starting when the team comes out of the bye week for a Week 10 matchup against the New York Jets.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson Eager to Prove Doubters Wrong
Watson’s stay in Cleveland has been a disaster. Since arriving in 2022 via a blockbuster trade, Watson has a 9-10 record as the starter, passing for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Even when healthy, Watson has not looked nearly as good as the Pro Bowl talent he was with the Houston Texans.
The Browns have been forced to navigate the consequences of the trade, which included signing Watson to a fully guaranteed $230 million contract. Owner Jimmy Haslam called it a “swing and miss,” signaling how the team feels about Watson being a part of their future at the position.
However, Watson is still eager to return and prove his doubters wrong.
“Everyone is doubting me — everyone don’t believe in me,” Watson said in a social media video documenting his return. “Everyone don’t think I can get back to where I was. But I know, and I believe the work that I put in, that I believe in myself… I know, I’m gonna be way better than before.”
The odds are stacked against Watson. His performance was already declining before the severe injury that has sidelined him for more than a year. It’s unlikely he’ll factor into the quarterback decision in Cleveland. But never say never, especially with the Browns.
