The Cleveland Browns are 7-3 in 2023 and fighting to win the AFC North. They are the fifth seed in the AFC and are only one game back in the North.
However, the quarterback position has been shaky all year. Especially when starting quarterback Deshaun Watson went down not once but twice. His season is over, and the Browns brought in Joe Flacco.
All in all, why did the Browns sign Flacco?
Why Did the Cleveland Browns Sign Joe Flacco?
The Browns officially signed Flacco to the practice squad on Nov. 20. He most recently played for the New York Jets in 2022 and is in his 16th NFL season. He was a first-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens back in 2008.
In his career, Flacco has passed for 42,320 yards, 232 touchdowns, and 147 interceptions. In his most recent stint with the Jets, he passed for 2,253 yards, 14 touchdowns, and six interceptions in three seasons. He had a 1-8 record as starting quarterback.
“I believe I can still play,” said Flacco. He had spent the first half of the 2023 NFL season unsigned. Flacco shared he was surprised he didn’t have more interest earlier in the season.
Deshaun Watson suffered a displaced fracture in his right glenoid in his shoulder in the first half of the Browns’ Week 10 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. He received surgery, which ended his season. Additionally, he was playing through a high ankle sprain in the comeback win. “I’m still in disbelief,” said Watson.
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The Browns have started three different quarterbacks this season. Watson started six games, passing for 1,115 yards, seven TDs, and four INTs. Additionally, he has 142 yards and one more touchdown on the ground. The Browns are at 5-1 when he starts.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson and P.J. Walker have filled in for him, starting two games each. Thompson-Robinson passed for 295 yards, zero touchdowns, and four interceptions. Walker, on the other hand, has passed for 618 yards, one score, and five picks.
The two combine for 913 yards, one touchdown, and nine interceptions. The Browns are 2-2 in those four games. The Browns have been leaning on their defense, which is allowing an average of just 18 points per game and is ranked near the top in every metric.
The Browns traded for Watson from the Houston Texans before the 2022 NFL season. They also gave him a new deal worth $230 million over five years, fully guaranteed.
The Browns will face the Denver Broncos in Week 12, looking to keep their division push alive. The Broncos are 5-5 on the season and are actively on a four-game win streak. The game will kick off at 4:05 p.m. ET on FOX.
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