4:04pm: Flacco’s visit will not produce an agreement at least at this time, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. As he notes, the update may be a simple matter of the veteran not being able to suit up for Week 11 so soon after the workout and thus not being needed on the roster. In any case, both team and player will assess where they stand at this point with the potential to work out a deal down the road.
8:42am: Browns GM Andrew Berry indicated the Browns’ QB plan will hinge on Dorian Thompson-Robinson and P.J. Walker, but the team will add a third passer in the wake of Deshaun Watson‘s upcoming surgery. A workout will determine how Cleveland proceeds.
Joe Flacco will audition for the team today, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. While a multi-QB workout has been rumored, ESPN.com’s Jake Trotter notes Flacco is the only passer the Browns are bringing in today. The former Super Bowl-winning Ravens QB expressed interest in playing this season, and he later reached out to the Jets following Aaron Rodgers‘ Achilles tear. Nothing came of that, and Flacco has remained in free agency since his latest Jets contract expired in March.
Now 38, Flacco is far removed from his prime. He spent time at all three positions on the Jets’ QB depth chart last season. The two-stint Jet began last season as a starter, however, due to a Zach Wilson injury. The Jets later pivoted to Mike White as their starter upon benching Wilson, though Flacco factored into the AFC East team’s past three QB plans.
The Browns are likely looking to add a practice squad QB, Rapoport notes. Options are obviously limited, especially with the Rams signing Carson Wentz last week. This addition is not certain to occur today, but cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot adds the Browns will have a third QB on their roster before their Week 12 game against the Broncos.
Cleveland will turn back to Thompson-Robinson this week, doing so after the fifth-round rookie’s previous start led to a quick demotion. Walker has completed only 49% of his passes this season, and with the Browns showing enough confidence in Thompson-Robinson they traded Josh Dobbs to the Cardinals in August, they will see how the UCLA product fares after a full week of practice reps.
The Ravens traded Flacco to the Broncos in 2019, doing so after moving to Lamar Jackson on a full-time basis. Following that Denver one-off, the former Super Bowl MVP has been with the Eagles and Jets during the 2020s. Not seeing any game action with Philly, Flacco received nine Jets starts from 2020-22. He went 1-8 in those outings; the win came in Cleveland. Flacco directed a come-from-behind victory in Week 2 of last season, carving up a then-suspect Browns defense during a 307-yard, four-touchdown passing day. The 15-year veteran did not sustain that form, with the Jets giving White and then Chris Streveler work later in 2022.
It appears the Browns are only planning to turn to other QBs if they are unsatisfied with Flacco’s current form. Flacco signing with Cleveland would make him the NFL’s second-oldest active passer, behind only Rodgers. Flacco has made 160 career starts. While Berry had become the Browns’ GM by the time Flacco signed with the Eagles in 2021, assistant GM Catherine Raiche was in Philly during Flacco’s months-long stay. The Eagles traded Flacco back to the Jets in October 2021.
lmaoooooooooooooooooooooooo
hahahahaah. hahahaahah.
hahahaha Browns stink
Not nearly as bad as your comments stink. What stinks for you is that they’re still likely to take out your stench team even without their starting QB. Ha ha ha ha ha!
Trust me, the school of the blind could beat the Steelers. Pickett is worse than every QB and backup in the NFL.
RG3 has issued a “come and get me” call to the Browns. Maybe he should first contact his original NFL team, the Washington Redskins.
Matt Ryan was floated earlier in the week as a stopgap for Cleveland but he’s settling into his new career as a CBS game analyst.
wish they would sign McGough off Packers practice squad
He wouldn’t be bad, if he can manage the offense like Trent Dilfer did in 2000 for the Ravens
It would be wild, but hey if he can manage the team’s offense, the Browns could do well in tbe Playoffs
Flacco looks like a great choice when the other options are DeShone Kizer or Johnny Manziel.
You want the Browns to bring back a QB who likes to party all the time?
Actually, yes.
The article states that Flacco is far removed from his prime. Are we sure of that?
His prime consisted of a four game Super Bowl run that he parlayed into a $20M contract. Not bad for a mediocre QB, at best
Flacco need to stay home, former shell of himself as a QB.. might as well bring in uncle Rico
One word: Fitzmagic
Why Joe ? Can’t even call his last few seasons a shell of his former self. Looked terrible n old. About only thing he performed well@ was huddle presence n handing ball off, that’s it. Should stay in jersey Joe n spend sum of that loot u made. “Fo’get bout it !”
Flacco did have a moment of magic last season … the miracle comeback in Cleveland when the Jets scored 14 points in the last 1:57 to win.
It’s gotten that bad in Cleveland, I guess.
It’s nice finding comments that have no expiration date.
Browns are smart bringing in Flacco. Jets should have made the call first and replaced Zack Wilson with Joe.
He’s an experienced vet with strong arm, just not mobile. I would not be surprised if he sees action in a about 2 weeks and keeps Browns in the hunt. The rookie and PJ Walker won’t get it done.
Are the Browns trying to tank? 1-8 for the rest of the season will do a lot for their draft position.
not that it’ll do any good.. no first rounders, remember?
Oh of course, the Trading Multiple First Round Picks for a Veteran Superstar plague devastates the Browns after the Jets, the Rams, the 49ers, the Redskins…Somehow the 49ers made do but everyone else bought themselves three or four years of cap hell and draft desert.