The Cleveland Browns were somewhat disappointed earlier this week when an MRI on Deshaun Watson’s throwing shoulder revealed a broken bone. Kevin Stefanski went to Dorian Thompson-Robinson rather than P.J. Walker after his season ended. In Week 11, DTR led Cleveland to a 13-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, proving that was the right decision.
While Thompson-Robinson was by no means exceptional, he set up the game-winning field goal on the last drive with perfect play. Still, the Browns made the decision shortly after the game to add some insurance behind him. It was announced late on Sunday that Joe Flacco, an experienced player, had joined Cleveland’s practice squad.
Flacco worked out in Cleveland earlier this week, but he didn’t sign a contract. According to reports, the two parties were determining whether or not to work together in the end. The Browns now have a seasoned veteran to play behind Thompson-Robinson, so it was a wise move.
Flacco, a former Delaware first-round selection, played his first 11 years of professional football with the Baltimore Ravens, where he even won a Super Bowl in 2012. After that, he played for the Denver Broncos for one season before joining the New York Jets for the next three.
He has completed 42,320 yards and 61.6 percent of his attempts overall, with 232 touchdowns and 147 interceptions. He is renowned for his ability to throw deep balls, and despite being in his late 30s, Cleveland fans are all too aware that he can still drive the ball deep. Flacco threw for 307 yards and four touchdowns in a victory over the Browns in Week 2 of the 2022 season.
Speaking of beating the Browns, some Cleveland supporters might find it difficult to recognize Flacco in orange and brown. He not only had an incredible 18-3 record against the Browns, but he was also their rival for 11 years. He will now act as a backup and might even be a better option than P.J. Walker.
In an ideal world, Flacco just holds a clipboard and gives the rookie quarterback some wise counsel. But regardless of the circumstances, he won’t back down if he’s asked to step in at any time. He was added to a team with postseason aspirations for that reason.
