Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco heads back to the practice squad this week after he started against the Los Angeles Rams. It’s just a formality, but head coach Kevin Stefanski also did not say whether or not Flacco would remain the starter despite a solid debut for the Cleveland Browns.
Flacco completed 52.3 percent of his passes for 254 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. On its surface, that’s the best performance by a Browns quarterback since Deshaun Watson in Week 3. But while Flacco made some nice passes, he threw a back-breaking interception to Rams safety John Johnson in the fourth quarter that helped Los Angeles turn a one-point lead into an eight-point lead late in the game.
Stefanski may have no choice but to return to Flacco, though, if Dorian Thompson-Robinson can’t clear the league’s concussion protocol ahead of Week 14. The rookie couldn’t play Week 14 because of his concussion and there’s no telling if he’ll be available this week, either.
But even if DTR is cleared to play, he may not be the best option. Flacco was wheeling and dealing all afternoon and looked poised in the pocket. The Browns haven’t had much success from their quarterbacks except for a few solid performances from Watson. Stefanski may see Flacco as the best option moving forward for a Browns team still in the playoff hunt.