Baltimore, MD -- (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Ravens have named rookie Joe Flacco as their starting quarterback for the season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.

"Joe is going to be the starter on Sunday," said first-year head coach John Harbaugh. "He's taken the reps as a starter. It wouldn't be realistic to have one of those two guys [Kyle Boller or Troy Smith] as a starter for sure."

The Ravens' first-round pick and the second quarterback taken in the draft behind Matt Ryan, Flacco started Baltimore's last two preseason games and completed 8-of-13 passes for 72 yards in the 10-9 loss to Atlanta in the preseason finale on August 28.

Flacco, the 18th overall selection in the draft out of Delaware, finished the preseason by going 35-for-67 with 284 yards and one touchdown.

Baltimore had no choice but to name Flacco as the starter as Smith remains sidelined with infected tonsils and Boller, who lost the starting job to Smith late last season, could be out for several weeks with a shoulder injury.