The Cleveland Browns are 7-4 heading into Week 13 and hold the sixth seed in the AFC playoff picture. With so many injuries at the quarterback position, the Browns added Joe Flacco to the mix, who will start in the team’s matchup against the Los Angeles Rams after being elevated from the practice squad.
This means rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson will not play. What happened to Thompson-Robinson?
What Happened to Dorian Thompson-Robinson?
After not practicing during the week, the Browns officially ruled out Thompson-Robinson for the game as he continues through the concussion protocol.
The injury was suffered late in the third quarter of Cleveland’s 29-12 loss to the Denver Broncos when he was hit high and hard by Broncos’ linebacker Baron Browning. A flag was thrown on the play.
The injury comes just two weeks after losing starter Deshaun Watson to a broken throwing shoulder.
Thompson-Robinson was drafted out of UCLA in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He spent five seasons with the Bruins, passing for 10,710 yards, 88 touchdowns, and 36 interceptions.
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Since being drafted, the 24-year-old has had action in five games, starting three. DTR has passed for 429 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions. He adds a 53.2% completion percentage and 65 rushing yards, with a 1-2 record in his three starts.
Flacco, who was signed on Nov. 20, signed to the practice squad. He hadn’t signed with a team since becoming a free agent following the 2022 season, which he spent with the New York Jets.
This is Flacco’s 16th NFL season and fifth team, being drafted in the first round by the Baltimore Ravens in 2008. He spent 11 seasons in Baltimore, most recently in 2018, before joining the Broncos for one and the Jets for three. He was, however, signed to the Philadelphia Eagles where he was traded back to the Jets in 2021.
In his career, Flacco has passed for 42,320 yards, 232 touchdowns, and 147 interceptions. In his most recent action, he started four games for the Jets in 2022. He passed for 1,051 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions, with a record of 1-3.
Flacco led the Ravens to a Super Bowl victory and won MVP of Super Bowl XLVII. In 15 career playoff games, Flacco has 3,223 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He’s 10-5 in those games.
On Sunday, Flacco will be backed up by P.J. Walker, who joined the Browns this season after three seasons with the Carolina Panthers. Walker has also started two games this season. In those two games, he passed for 674 yards, one touchdown, and five interceptions — going 1-1 in those two outings.
During his time in Carolina, Walker started seven games and had action in 15. He passed for 1,461 yards, five touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in those 15 games. He had a 4-3 record in the seven starts.
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