Flacco’s midweek arrival in Cincinnati forces a rapid, veteran-led crash course for the line ahead of Week 6 in Green Bay. Ted Karras anchors the snap, drilling silent cadence and base rules to speed the QB-center exchange on the road.

Amarius Mims is fired up to protect Flacco, who grew up idolizing him and Roethlisberger, as Cincinnati leans on Flacco’s arm to connect with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins behind a wary Packers front led by the freshly added Parsons.

The Bengals will lean into offensive-line upgrades as the trade deadline nears, mixing acquisitions of proven blockers with selective asset moves. Hendrickson isn’t viewed as a trade candidate due to his contract, while Amarius Mims and Dylan Fairchild continue to develop in a unit that has struggled in 2025. Cincinnati has shown it benefits from outside OL help, citing past adds like Orlando Brown Jr., Ted Karras, and Alex Cappa as proof the fastest path to improvement is through proven veterans rather than internal development alone.

With a broader rebuild on the horizon, the plan could tilt toward signing depth rather than wholescale selling, but the overarching goal remains protecting Burrow and stabilizing the line. If blowouts persist, expect a delicate balance of buying and selling to accelerate a post-season reset and set up a sharper offseason strategy focused on a stronger front five.

Lions visit Cincinnati on a 4:15 ET slate with Detroit riding a three-game win streak. Hutchinson is a pure game-wrecker who could tilt the edge against Amarius Mims, while Cincinnati eyes a bounce-back after road losses to Vikings and Broncos. The Lions’ backfield duo, Montgomery and Gibbs, supply a dangerous ground-and-pass threat, with Amon-Ra St. Brown as the trusted target and Jared Goff’s efficient distribution fueling daily fantasy upside. Expect big sacks for Hutchinson, steady floor from Readers in the middle, and a tactical battle that could swing on big plays in the run game.