After Deshaun Watson underwent season-ending shoulder surgery, the Browns gained depth, experience, and a
backup quarterback in Flacco, a 15-year NFL veteran and former Super Bowl MVP. Flacco signed on Monday.
The 38-year-old Flacco, who spent the majority of his career playing with the Ravens, went 18-3 versus the Browns.
He will start the season on the practice squad with the hope that he will be moved to the active roster shortly.
For the time being, though, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, a rookie, will stick with the Browns (7-3), who defeated the
Pittsburgh Steelers 13-10 on Sunday thanks to a clutch performance.
While preparations for Flacco are still being finalized, Thompson-Robinson will start again this week against Denver,
according to coach Kevin Stefanski’s statement on Monday.
“Joe’s responsibility is to assist this team as they arrive here,” Stefanski stated during a reporter-only Zoom session.
We managed to bring on a man with a wealth of experience. He’ll fit right in that room. He will be invaluable to this
group.
The Browns had Flacco work out on Friday, but they didn’t finalize an agreement with him until Sunday night,
maybe so as not to put additional strain on Thompson-Robinson.
Flacco, who played for Baltimore in 2012, was named MVP of the Super Bowl after throwing for 232 touchdowns and
over 42,000 yards. He spent the previous three seasons as a player for the New York Jets, helping them to an
unlikely victory in Cleveland the previous season.
The Browns should benefit from Flacco’s wealth of experience on both sides of the ball.
Greg Newsome II, a cornerback, described it as “amazing.” It will only serve to advance us toward our objectives. It’s
always fantastic to have guys in the building who have won Super Bowls and been to Super Bowls, especially when it
comes to our goals for the end of the season.
It’s good to simply hear his opinions on specific matters. The fact that he is coming is ideal. He is arriving at the ideal
moment, particularly for the section of the journey we are going to undertake. Therefore, we will undoubtedly use
him to assist us in getting there.
Eventually, Flacco might replace Thompson-Robinson, who in his second NFL start appeared more assured and composed.
The UCLA star, selected in the fifth round of the draft, overcame an interception in the second half and completed four straight throws on Cleveland’s last drive, allowing Dustin Hopkins to kick the game-winning field goal in the closing seconds.
After a week of training, Thompson claimed to have improved “night and day” from his October 1st professional
debut, in which he started in place of an injured Watson during a 28-3 loss to Baltimore. After throwing three
interceptions, Thompson-Robinson appeared overmatched.
Despite only going 24 of 43 for 165 yards against the Steelers, a better showing offered the Browns hope that he will keep getting better.
“He performed promptly,” Stefanski remarked. “He fulfilled his duties. He had a great practice week, in my opinion. We discussed that. He seems to have done a great job of preparing, but that’s only one aspect of it. That’s something you have to keep doing every week.
Flacco is waiting in the wings just in case he can’t.
Three quarterbacks have already been employed by the Browns: Watson, Thompson-Robinson, and P.J. Walker, who started two games and came off the bench in the third. It seems that before taking any more action, Stefanski and Cleveland’s front staff wish to give Thompson-Robinson every chance to be successful.
Though the Browns might need to elevate Flacco—who still has a tremendous arm—in order to get more out of their offense, Cleveland’s defense ranks first, making them a potential title candidate.
Flacco might be another resource to help mentor the rookie quarterback if Thompson-Robinson demonstrates he can stay on the team.
