Browns make quarterback decisions for Broncos game

The 7-3 Cleveland Browns signed veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to their practice squad on Monday but will stick with rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson as their starter for at least this coming Sunday's game at the 5-5 Denver Broncos. 

"Joe's role is to support this team," Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters on Monday, per Jake Trotter of ESPN. "He'll be great for that [quarterback] room. He'll be great for this team."

Thompson-Robinson, a fifth-round draft pick, failed to impress when he completed 19-of-36 passes for 121 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions in a 28-3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4 on Oct. 1. 

After Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 10, Thompson-Robinson connected on 24-of-43 attempts for 165 yards with an interception in Sunday's 13-10 home victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Most importantly, the 24-year-old completed four passes while engineering what became a game-winning field goal drive. 

"There was a ton on the line," Cleveland running back Kareem Hunt said about Thompson-Robinson during a postgame chat with NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. "I’ve seen him grow. He came in with a different mentality [this week]. Attack every practice like it was a game, just preparing himself. I feel like he was very prepared. … I’d seen him making the right reads, throwing good, catchable balls for us, and letting the playmakers make plays."

Flacco, 38, started four games for the New York Jets last season and could be on Cleveland's active roster along with backup PJ Walker for the Denver matchup. Meanwhile, ESPN stats show the Browns defense is allowing an NFL-best 243.3 yards per game. Cleveland is ranked sixth with an average of 18.0 points surrendered per contest. 

"The ceiling is as far as we can take it," Hunt added about a Browns team that would qualify for the playoffs if the tournament started ahead of Thanksgiving. "We just find a way to win, no matter what. We got to just find a way to win and play as a team. That was a team win." 

Flacco, the Most Valuable Player for Super Bowl XLVII back in February 2013, will wait for an opportunity to possibly earn wins with the Browns if Thompson-Robinson slips up. As of Monday afternoon, oddschecker listed Cleveland as a 2.5-point underdog against Denver.