The Cleveland Browns were having a good time when their quarterback, Deshaun Watson, was at the helm. Despite being slammed by sports enthusiasts due to his off-field activities, the signal-caller’s on-field performance speaks volumes. Since he went down with a season-ending injury, the team has been on the losing end.
With seven wins and four losses, the Browns were banking on their young QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, to secure a playoff run. However, misfortune struck them again as the signal-caller too got plagued by injury. As two prominent dual-threats are battling setbacks, the Browns have a reliable weapon, Joe Flacco, who was earlier declared an ‘elite quarterback’ by Donald Trump.
Will Joe Flacco start against the Rams?
Joe Flacco was signed to the Browns’ practice squad last week. The veteran’s recent signing has rapidly transformed into a significant opportunity as he assumes the starting quarterback role against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 13, following Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s struggles with injury.
Despite joining the team just a week ago, the signal-caller made himself with the team by actively participating in practice sessions, seizing first-team reps, and diligently studying the game plan to familiarize himself as much as possible within a short tenure. The QB expressed his eagerness to contribute and relish the experience of playing solid football while discussing the essence of camaraderie and winning alongside teammates, something he cherished and missed dearly.
“There’s not too many things that are better in the world than just playing good sound football and feeling good about it. That’s what winning is all about. It’s about doing it with your teammates and enjoying that experience. You miss that,” he said via the Cleveland Browns.
The former Super Bowl MVP’s ascendancy to the starting position involved surpassing PJ Walker on the depth chart, earning the confidence of Head Coach Kevin Stefanski. The coach lauded Flacco’s understanding of the offensive system.
“So, he’s worked very hard to put himself in position to go in that huddle and spit the play out and then operate at the line of scrimmage. He’s put in a lot of work in.”
Stefanski’s hands-on approach involved spending time with the signal-caller and offensive coordinator, Alex Van Pelt, to facilitate Joe’s comfort in the squad. The QB’s prolonged NFL career spanning over a decade predominantly featured an eleven-year stint with the Baltimore Ravens, followed by brief sessions with the Denver Broncos for a season in 2019.
He last played for the New York Jets in 2022, which saw him fill in as a starter for four games amid Zach Wilson’s injury absence. Gang Green later moved on from him by signing Aaron Rodgers ahead of the regular season, who has also witnessed a tough battle with a torn Achilles.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson injury update
Thompson-Robinson sustained a concussion in the Browns recent loss against the Denver Broncos late in the third quarter after he was hit by linebacker Baron Browning on a fourth-and-12 play. He was ruled out of the match with a head injury with a few minutes left in the game.
The QB did not participate in the Browns practice Wednesday and Thursday, prompting the team to rule him out for the match against the Rams. He completed 14 of 29 passes for 134 yards and one touchdown before getting replaced by Walker for the rest of the match.
Besides DTR, the Browns will also miss the contributions of wide receiver Marquise Goodwin and cornerback Denzel Ward. Both players have been ruled out due to injury concerns, with Goodwin sustaining a concussion and Ward dealing with a shoulder injury. Adding to the team’s injury list, center Nick Harris is listed as questionable due to a knee injury.
Moving forward, how will these injuries affect Browns’ performance? Make sure to let us know in the comments section.
