The Browns had no plans to send Joe Flacco elsewhere at the beginning of the week when they returned home from playing in London.

But then a division rival called, and that changed their plans.

On Tuesday, the Browns traded Flacco to the Bengals, setting him up to be Cincinnati’s starter until Joe Burrow’s return later this season.

In his Wednesday press conference, head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters that the trade happened “very fast.”

“First [thing] I’d tell you is the Joe trade took us by surprise,” Stefanski said, noting the Bengals called the Browns. “That was not something that we saw coming.”

So why trade Flacco then, particularly to a team in the division?

“Obviously, AB makes those decisions,” Stefanski said, referring to G.M. Andrew Berry. “I trust AB. We talk about

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