Could Joe Flacco injury ultimately turn Bengals into sellers before trade deadline?

A Wednesday story suggested that the Cincinnati Bengals could become sellers before the Nov. 4 trade deadline if they suffer a home loss to the Chicago Bears (4-3) that drops the Bengals to 3-6 this coming Sunday.

It sounds like there is a reason to believe the Cincinnati offense could struggle against the Chicago defense at Paycor Stadium.

Will Joe Flacco miss Bears game due to injury?

On Wednesday, NFL insider Ian Rapoport of NFL Network revealed that current Bengals starting quarterback Joe Flacco "is dealing with an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder" that has left his status for the showdown with the Bears "up in the air." 

Flacco picked up the injury during the Bengals' 39-38 home loss to what had been a winless New York Jets side this past Sunday. As of Wednesday morning, backup Jake Browning was the next man up on the Cincinnati depth chart. Browning played poorly across three starts, all of which he lost, before the Bengals acquired Flacco from the Cleveland Browns earlier in October. 

According to Pro Football Reference stats, Browning began Wednesday ranked 29th in the league among qualified players with a 33.5 adjusted QBR and last with a 70.5 passer rating for the season. Week 1 Cincinnati QB1 Joe Burrow is expected to remain sidelined until at least "mid-December" after he had surgery on his injured toe. 

Will Joe Flacco injury impact how Bengals handle Trey Hendrickson?

Back in the summer, the Bengals and veteran pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson agreed to a short-term fix regarding the final year of his contract. On Wednesday, NFL insider Jeremy Fowler of ESPN mentioned that a 7-1 Indianapolis Colts team in need of help for its defensive front could call Cincinnati about Hendrickson's availability. Former Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo now holds that position with the Colts. 

That said, Bengals reporter Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic insisted in an article posted on Wednesday that the club is "not trading Trey Hendrickson. Full stop." Dehner added that the Bengals "trading away their best hope of serviceability doesn’t make sense from a franchise that won’t be giving up on the season, no matter how Sunday goes against the Bears."

One wonders if Flacco's injury could cause the Bengals to ultimately punt on a campaign they clearly don't want to give up on ahead of Halloween.