"#Bengals QB Joe Flacco is planning to start on Sunday, sources say, barring something unforeseen with his AC joint sprain in his right shoulder," Rapoport wrote. "There was optimism after Thursday’s practice and that continued this weekend. No one knows how it’ll react. But he’s giving it a shot."

Joe Flacco headlines our list of Week 9 fantasy football boom-or-bust players who could either carry your lineup to victory or sink it with a dud performance.

The main injuries of note here in this AFC Championship Game rematch is that the Chiefs will be without Isiah Pacheco, meaning more carries for Kareem Hunt and rookie Brashard Smith, and the Bills will be without Joshua Palmer, who's been solid as a third or fourth receiving option in Buffalo's offense.

The Browns did what seemed to be the right thing. They benched Flacco in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel, and traded Flacco and a 2026 sixth-round pick in-state for a 2026 fifth-round pick to the Bengals on October 7. Flacco was quickly named the Bengals’ starter, because what other choice did the Bengals have?

CINCINNATI — Joe Flacco returned to the practice field on Thursday afternoon as the Bengals hope for him to be under center this Sunday against the Bears. His top passcatcher, Ja'Marr Chase, didn't see any difference in the QB's arm.