CINCINNATI — Bengals QB Joe Flacco said he should be OK to play against the Bears Sunday despite an injury to his throwing shoulder in Cincinnati's loss to the New York Jets.
While he did not definitively say he would start, Flacco told reporters Friday afternoon he feels "pretty good" after practicing this week.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor originally said it was a 50/50 chance if Flacco plays Sunday, noting that while the veteran quarterback wanted to play, his status was undecided.
Flacco hurt his right shoulder in the fourth quarter Sunday when he was sacked by Jets defensive end Will McDonald IV. The 40-year-old went to the locker room to get checked out before returning to the field for the last drive.
After the game, Flacco said that he "landed a little awkward," but felt OK. Taylor said the Bengals had a plan in place to see where things went for Flacco as the week progressed.
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His absence on Sunday would be a big blow for the Bengals' offense, which has returned to form since his arrival. Even in Sunday's loss, the veteran quarterback was 21 for 34 with 223 yards and two touchdowns.
Without Flacco, the Bengals would return to backup Jake Browning, who helped Cincinnati win over the Jacksonville Jaguars when Joe Burrow left the game in Week 2, but struggled in his three starts with the team — all of which resulted in losses.
Burrow, still recovering from his turf toe injury, has progressed to walking without a boot. However, his return won't be possible until mid-December at the earliest.
