The Cleveland Browns can clinch a playoff spot with a win against the New York Jets on Thursday night. This is even more unbelievable when you remember that the Browns lost four-time Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb to a season-ending knee injury in Week 2 and starting QB Deshaun Watson injured his shoulder and needed season-ending surgery in November.
The team needed depth at quarterback behind rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson, so they found a former Super Bowl MVP who was available. Before, it appeared 38-year-old veteran QB Joe Flacco might not even play this season after not signing with a team heading into November.
No Joe Flacco Reunion in New York
Flacco started nine games during the previous three seasons with the Jets.
There were reports early in the season that he expressed an interest in joining the team for a third time after QB Aaron Rodgers went down with an injury.
Jets HC Robert Saleh said this week that he has no regrets about not bringing in Flacco.
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“We love Joe,” Saleh said. “I love the way he prepares, really pumped for him and the success he’s having, but it’s just the decision we made in terms of the quarterback room and the way we developed it over the course of OTAs and training camp.”
Flacco said this week about the Jets not reaching out, “I enjoyed my time while I was there, and it is what it is. I’m happy to be where I am, that’s for sure.”
An Opportunity in Cleveland
Flacco worked out for the Browns a couple of days after the team announced that Watson was out for the season. He left Cleveland without a deal, but he was signed to the practice squad a few days later.
Before his tryout, Flacco said he talked with a former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator about the Browns’ coaching staff.
“Gary Kubiak gave me a call and just had a lot of praise for these guys, and I trust Gary’s word,” Flacco said. “I was only with him one year, but very honest man, and so what he says goes, and definitely had a lot of good things to say about it.”
The initial plan when Flacco signed was for Thompson-Robinson to remain as the starter.
“Yeah, Dorian will start, and Joe’s role is to support this team,” Browns HC Kevin Stefanski said at the moment. “Coming in here, we were able to add a guy with a ton of experience. He’ll be great for that room. He’ll be great for this team.”
Flacco got his first start in Week 13 after Thompson-Robinson suffered a concussion. He passed for 254 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Flacco got another start in Week 14 and led the Browns to a victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. After the game, Stefanski said Flacco would be the starter for the rest of the season. He has averaged 371 pass yards in the two games since getting the full-time job.
The former Ravens QB and the Browns are on a three-game winning streak and are on the brink of a playoff berth. When asked about his new home, he said, “The city’s been unbelievable. I can’t say enough about how welcoming everybody has been. It’s definitely been a little bit surreal, in terms of how people have treated me around here. That stuff always feels good, so hopefully, we keep going.”
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