‘I really don’t care’ Joe Flacco thinking about Steelers, not Joe Burrow’s imminent return
Joe Burrow speaks at press conference after returning to practice
Joe Burrow speaks at press conference after returning to practice on Monday November 10, 2025.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco was asked Nov. 12 whether he thinks about Joe Burrow’s return this week to practice and what it means for Flacco’s potentially imminent return to a backup role.
“I don’t know, I think backups probably do it a good amount where they know like, ‘Hey, this guy’s coming back, he’s got a three-week injury or whatever it is,'” Flacco said. “I’m honestly not really thinking about it. It’s not really a part of my process. I really don’t care. It’s this week, and that’s all that matters. And I think to think about that stuff would just be a distraction. So it’s not really something I’m worried about. Like I said, I’m just worried about doing my job, and this week that’s going out and playing against Pittsburgh.”
Flacco was asked how collaborating with Burrow has gone so far.
“Listen, I think you can probably make too much about that honestly,” Flacco said. “I mean, listen, we’re just two quarterbacks sitting in a room, and it’s not like we’re doing anything groundbreaking in there. We’re two quarterbacks in a room just like any other two quarterbacks for the most part. I think, like I said, for me, still being new in the offense, and it’s not just him, it’s also Jake (Browning). I’m still at the point where you’re able to kind of see the operation of things and kind of bounce little questions like that off those guys. I think that’s still the biggest thing. … But if I can kinda understand where they’re coming from, it makes it a little easier for me. … He’s been great to have in the room just because he’s been operating in this offense and actually been out there doing it for however many years now. So it’s always nice to be able to see … the operation of how he may do things.”
Flacco did not throw during practice Wednesday, but is expected to throw during practice Thursday ahead of an NFL Week 11 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium.
Flacco played with a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder during a 47-42 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 9, and became the oldest quarterback in NFL history to pass for 470 yards in a game.
In the first “Icy Hot Bowl” between Flacco and Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Flacco completed 31-of-47 for 342 passing yards with three touchdowns in the Bengals’ 33-31 win.
