The Browns’ search for a veteran quarterback in the wake of Deshaun Watson‘s season-ending absence resulted in Joe Flacco being added. The latter boasts substantially more experience in the NFL than Dorian Thompson-Robinson and P.J. Walker, the passers he is now competing with on the depth chart.
While Flacco was signed (to the team’s practice squad, at first) to offer a higher floor as a backup compared to Walker, the veteran will not be in uniform for Week 12. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com notes Flacco will likely find himself second in the QB pecking order relatively soon, but it will again be a Thompson-Robinson-Walker tandem on Sunday. The Browns elected not to make Flacco a gameday elevation, confirming those short-term plans.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski quickly confirmed Thompson-Robinson would continue as the Browns’ starter in the wake of the Flacco signing (h/t ESPN’s Jake Trotter). The rookie has put up far from spectacular numbers in his two starts so far (55% completion percentage, zero touchdowns, four interceptions), but his play in preseason earned him the No. 2 role behind Watson and his familiarity with the offense obviously far outpaces that of Flacco. The latter was Cleveland’s top target for a midseason addition, though.
On that point, Tony Grossi of ESPN 850 reports the Browns were satisfied not only with Flacco’s arm strength but also his mobility. The former Super Bowl MVP was never known for being fleet of foot in his prime, so at the age of 38 expectations in that department will no doubt be tempered. Still, it is notable he managed to draw positive reviews from the team’s evaluation as a street free agent in his bid to continue what is now a 16-year career. It will be interesting to see how quickly Flacco manages to get a look as the backup.
Walker’s performances in that capacity (should he get the opportunity to play in the near future) will of course play a role in Cleveland’s decision at the QB spot. Given his inexperience and level of play so far, Thompson-Robinson also has far from a firm grip on the starter’s role at this point. For at least one more week, though, he will reside atop the depth chart while Flacco’s acclimation period and the changes it could bring about will be a storyline to watch for the Browns’ offense.
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