After losing starting quarterback Deshaun Watson for the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury, the Cleveland Browns are relying on rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson to start this weekend against the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers. But they’re also looking at other quarterbacks.
Joe Flacco, who played for the Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos and New York Jets, worked out for the Browns on Friday. However, according to Cleveland.com, the veteran left the club without a deal. He reportedly remains their main target and could be added to the active roster or practice squad by next week.
After spending the first 11 years of his career in Baltimore and winning a Super Bowl along the way, Flacco spent one year in Denver and three in New York, alternating between starting and backup for each team. He started 1-3 in four games in 2022 while completing just 57.6% of his passes, averaging a career-low 5.5 yards per attempt, with five touchdowns against three interceptions. The now 38-year-old quarterback has been out of the league all season.
It’s not yet known what other quarterbacks might be in the cards for Cleveland, but the Browns also have PJ Walker in addition to Thompson-Robinson, and they felt comfortable enough with Walker to start him for three games, replacing Watson at the start of the missed the season. It seems unlikely that the quarterback being signed will usurp both players, but stranger things have certainly happened – especially in this wild season of backup quarterback play.