That’s because there is a good chance that the Browns will start their fourth different quarterback in their last six games. It’s been a dizzying run of injuries and poor performance at the game’s most important position for the game, but injury-prone Browns.
“This has been one of the more up and down injury years we’ve had,” said Browns two-time All-Pro, five-time Pro Bowl guard Joe Bitonio. “Coach has done a good job of keeping our minds focused on the next game. It matters, but it doesn’t really matter who is out there. You’ve got to execute and find a way to win these games.”
For the 7-4 Browns, this year winning has been easier than staying healthy. Especially at the quarterback position, where the potential starter against the Rams could be 38-year-old Joe Flacco, who has not appeared in an NFL game since quarterbacking the New York Jets in their final game of the 2022 season.
The Browns signed Flacco to their practice squad on November 20. Since then, starting quarterback Deshaun Watson has undergone season-ending shoulder surgery, backup P.J. Walker has struggled, and rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson is currently in concussion protocol.
Flacco, who was the Super Bowl MVP in 2012 while quarterbacking the Baltimore Ravens, was given first team reps during Cleveland’s practice at UCLA on Wednesday.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said he won’t decide on his starting quarterback until later in the week. “There’s no reason to make any decisions just yet. We’ll see how it goes,” he said.
If Thompson-Robinson is still in protocol by the weekend, Flacco would be the starter against the Rams.
“He has a big strong arm. Obviously he can make every throw,” said Stefanski. “Joe has been in a bunch of different systems, so he knows how it works. He knows how different operations have a different nuance. So he’s getting up to speed with what we do.”
If Flacco does get the start, he’s coming into a pressure-packed portion of the Browns’ schedule. Cleveland has won five of its last seven games, and are tied with Pittsburgh for second place in the AFC Central. However, the offense has sputtered in recent weeks. The Browns have scored just 12 and 13 points in their last two games.
Stefanski said if given the start Sunday, Flacco’s experience, especially in big games, will be invaluable.
“There are a lot of backup quarterbacks that are playing,” he said. “We’re no different, and we have a certain standard that we play by as an offense, as a team. It doesn’t really change based on who is in there.”
In their last five games, the Browns, with Walker the starting quarterback, lost to Seattle 24-20 on October 29. On November 5, Watson was the starter in a 27-0 win over Arizona. Watson was the starter the next week, a 33-31 win over the Ravens in Baltimore.
However, Watson suffered his season-ending shoulder injury in that Baltimore game. Thompson-Robinson started the next two games, a 13-10 win over the Steelers, and a 29-12 loss to Denver, during which Thompson Robinson suffered his concussion.
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If Thompson-Robinson is still in concussion protocol Sunday, Flacco would get the start, becoming the fourth different starting quarterback in Cleveland’s last six games.
If Flacco does get the start, Stefanski says he’s confident the veteran quarterback has the experience to keep Browns’ ship afloat.
“When you come in and you’re a veteran and you’ve seen a lot, I think young guys certainly gravitate towards that,” Stefanski said. “But I think Joe let’s his history speak for itself. He’s just trying to be a good teammate.”
Bitonio said Flacco has made a smooth transition from sideline observer to potential emergency starting quarterback.
“He’s obviously the most experienced guy we’ve had,” said Bitonio. “We’ve had guys come in off the street and have to backup or something like that. He’s had a week. We’ve done a walk-through with him and he seems like he has the play calling
down, so we’re feeling good about it.”
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