​When Joe Burrow is healthy, there are few quarterbacks you’d rather have leading your team. The Cincinnati Bengals signal-caller has battled injuries across his first six NFL seasons, but he remains among the league’s elite at his position when his health cooperates. Optimism around Burrow was arguably higher than ever heading into last season, riding the high from his strongest statistical year in 2024 and the return of nearly every weapon on new or extended deals. The buzz swelled after a solid, healthy preseason, but reality soon followed: a slow start produced a low-scoring victory at Cleveland in Week 1, then a nine-week halt to the season due to a turf-toe injury in Week 2.
Even a midseason, surprising trade for Joe Flacco failed to move the needle for Cincinnati, despite Flacco’s robust numbers, and Burrow’s early return wasn’t enough to overcome turnover issues and a defense that struggled. Those concerns were addressed this offseason, and the Bengals now feel poised to exploit a talent-rich offense. The potential payoff for 2026 has fans buzzing that Cincinnati can go the distance if Burrow stays healthy and productive. With that in mind, let’s examine Burrow’s 2025 season, how he’s expected to rank among quarterbacks this year, and what the rest of Cincinnati’s quarterback room looks like, using data from Pro Football Focus. This is the first piece in a series that breaks down each Bengals position group.
Quarterbacks on the roster
– Starter: Joe Burrow
– Backup: Joe Flacco
– Others: Sean Clifford, Josh Johnson
Burrow by the numbers
– 2025 stats: 1,809 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 66.8% completion rate, 100.7 passer rating, 17 sacks, 5-3 record
– PFF grades for 2025: Burrow earned an overall offensive grade of 91.8, ranking second among 43 qualifying quarterbacks based on minimum snaps. He also posted a passing grade of 91.3 (also second), though he didn’t accumulate enough running snaps to qualify for a rushing grade.
– Where he ranks in 2026: Pro Football Focus slots Burrow as the second-best quarterback entering 2026, behind Buffalo’s Josh Allen and ahead of Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson. In analyses by PFF’s Dalton Wasserman and Max Chadwick, Allen, Burrow, Jackson, Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and the Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford were identified as the elite quintet in a tier of their own.
Flacco by the numbers
– 2025 stats (Browns/Bengals): 2,479 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 60.3% completion rate, 79.2 passer rating, 18 sacks, 2-8 record
– PFF grades for 2025: Flacco posted an overall offensive grade of 68.0 (30th among 43 qualifying quarterbacks). He had a 66.8 passing grade (28th) and did not accrue enough rushing snaps to qualify for a rushing grade.
– No projections yet for 2026
Further analysis
Between Burrow and Flacco, Cincinnati has reason to feel secure about its quarterback room. Ideally, Burrow remains on the field and productive, but the organization has a veteran capable of stepping in if needed and avoiding a precipitous drop in play. If Burrow can stay healthy and rekindle the form that made him one of the league’s top passers, Cincinnati’s offense could look even more formidable in 2026, with the rest of the roster fully aligned to maximize his strengths.