Former Vikings QB Dropped after Stunner Trade
Ex-Minnesota Vikings passer Brett Rypien will need a new job, as the veteran was cut loose by the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday, shortly after Cincinnati traded for Joe Flacco from the Cleveland Browns.
The Cincinnati Bengals pulled off a deal for Joe Flacco on Tuesday, and as a result, one former Minnesota Vikings quarterback got the axe.
In short, it’s Flacco in, Rypien out, and Jake Browning to the bench.
Bengals Trade for Joe Flacco, Drop Ex-Vikings QB Brett Rypien
A stunner trade by the Bengals, a team gashed by Minnesota a couple of weeks ago.
Brett Rypien Released by Bengals
It’s a done deal for Rypien’s brief stint with the Bengals.
Cincinnati Enquirer‘s Dave Clark wrote Tuesday, “Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Brett Rypien was released by the team ahead of its NFL Week 6 game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.”
“Rypien was listed as the Bengals’ backup behind starter Jake Browning before the team acquired 40-year-old Joe Flacco from the Cleveland Browns. Rypien replaced Browning at QB during the Bengals’ Week 3 loss to the Vikings in Minnesota. Rypien did not attempt a pass. It was the only game in which Rypien appeared for the Bengals.”
Cincinnati’s season has veered off the rails without Joe Burrow, who’s on the shelf for a few months due to injury, and Rypien will not factor into the possible solution going forward.
Joe Flacco in the House
Rypien got his marching orders to the free-agent wire because the Bengals traded for Flacco out of nowhere, with the divisional rival Browns.
ESPN announced: “The Cincinnati Bengals turned to their division rivals for a much-needed solution at quarterback, acquiring Joe Flacco in a trade with the Cleveland Browns. Cincinnati also received a sixth-round draft pick while Cleveland landed a fifth-round pick in the trade, which was announced Tuesday. The Bengals have been seeking a long-term help under center since franchise quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a toe injury in Week 2.”
“Jake Browning has struggled since replacing Burrow, throwing eight interceptions over parts of four games. Flacco joins Cincinnati two days after the Bengals (2-3) lost their third straight game with Browning, who threw three more interceptions in Sunday’s 37-24 loss to the Detroit Lions. Cincinnati has been outscored 113-37 during the three-game skid.”
The great hope is that Flacco can rekindle some of his prime magic to keep the QB1 seat warm for Burrow, who, in theory, could return for the postseason if Cincinnati somehow wiggles into the tournament.
Cincinnati has a 2-3 record through five weeks and was notably beaten down by the Vikings in Week 3, 48-10, the worst and most lopsided loss in Bengals history.
Jake Browning, Also an Ex-Viking, Demoted
There’s another Vikings-themed angle at play, too.
With Flacco in the mix, Cincinnati will bench Jake Browning, the QB2 on the depth chart at the start of the season and the recent QB1 who has not done much of anything.
Minnesota brought Browning into the NFL six years ago as an undrafted free agent, parting ways with him in 2022 after the franchise drafted Kellen Mond.
Browning infamously went berserk in 2023 when his Bengals defeated the Vikings, screaming at a live camera that Minnesota should have never released him. Two years later, it’s very evident why Minnesota cut ties with Browning in 2021. He isn’t good. He’s getting demoted for a 40-year-old quarterback that the Browns just benched.
Bengals’ Attempt to Salvage Season
Cincinnati has an uphill climb if it wholeheartedly believes that Flacco has the special sauce. Like Browning, he mostly stunk in the season’s first few games and was notably benched for 3rd-Round rookie Dillon Gabriel last week, a quarterback who was promptly defeated by Minnesota in London two days ago.
Still, nostalgia reigned supreme, and Bengals fans will hope that Flacco turns the clock back 10-15 years to perhaps achieve a 10-7 or 9-8 record.
The AFC North is up for grabs, with the Baltimore Ravens spiraling and the Browns rolling with Gabriel. The Pittsburgh Steelers lead the way with a 3-1 mark. Pittsburgh must now fend off the 2-3, Flacco-led Bengals, which shouldn’t be too daunting.
CBS Sports on the Flacco Trade
Jordan Dajani of CBS Sports opined on Flacco to Cincinnati: “ESPN reports that the Bengals would like Flacco to start this Sunday at the Green Bay Packers, and expect him to be a quick learner.”
“It’s not often you see two division rivals trade quarterbacks, but Flacco had recently been benched for Dillon Gabriel, and the Bengals felt like they had to make a change under center. Following Joe Burrow’s injury, Zac Taylor decided to roll with Jake Browning as his new starter. However, Browning has lost all three of his starts by a combined 76 points, while throwing four touchdowns compared to five interceptions.”
Flacco will turn 41 during the 2025 postseason.
Dajani continued, “The Bengals are now 2-3 after starting the season 2-0, but they are still very much in the thick of a wild race for the AFC North. In fact, the Bengals enter Week 6 ranked second in the division behind the 3-1 Pittsburgh Steelers, and above the 1-4 Browns and Baltimore Ravens.”
“However, it was clear a change needed to be made. Cincinnati currently ranks last in total offense (228.6 yards per game), and fourth-worst in points per game (17.0). Flacco started the first four games for the Browns this season, and went 1-3 while completing 58.1% of his passes for 815 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions.”
Rypien should latch onto another team’s practice squad before too long.
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