The Cleveland Browns signed Joe Flacco after all.
Cleveland added Flacco to their practice squad Sunday, the team announced Monday, less than 24 hours after the team’s 13-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11. Flacco worked out for the Browns earlier this week but didn’t sign a contract afterward. He’s expected to be promoted to the active roster sometime this week, per ESPN.
The team released wideout Trinity Benson from the practice squad in a corresponding transaction.
Flacco’s presence brings a level of experience and leadership the Browns’ locker room lacked after Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Flacco, 38, has a career completion percentage of 61.6 percent with 42,320 yards, 232 touchdowns and 147 interceptions – mostly with the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens. He started four games for the New York Jets in 2022 where he completed 57.6 percent of his passes for 1,051 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions.
Now, Flacco likely won’t supplant current starting quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson any time soon, especially after the fifth-round rookie led the Browns on a game-winning drive in the waning moments of Week 11. Thompson-Robinson completed first-down passes to Elijah Moore, Amari Cooper and David Njoku to set up Dustin Hopkins’ field goal to seal the win. He completed 55.8 percent of his passes for 165 yards and one interception on the day.
