Flacco, starter for the Browns

After four weeks, Joe Flacco emerged as the winner of the four-way competition for the Cleveland Browns' quarterback position.

The Browns announced yesterday that Flacco will start when they host rival Cincinnati, a direct contender in the North Division of the Northern Conference, in the opening game on September 7.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski indicated last week that a decision was coming.

The Browns were off Sunday after their 22-13 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, but held a team meeting yesterday.

Flacco, a 40-year-old veteran, outscored Kenny Pickett and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Deshaun Watson is on the roster but is expected to miss the season due to injuries.

“I think it's tough when you only get a couple of reps here and there because you're trying so hard to be perfect, and then you usually end up hurting yourself a little bit. But the last few weeks, honestly, have been pretty good for me,” Flacco said last week about the competition after a practice against the Eagles.

"I need to get more reps and feel comfortable and feel like I'm doing things at a pretty high level. So, I can't complain," he added.

In addition to making 191 regular-season starts and entering his 18th season, Flacco was the only quarterback who didn't miss time during training camp due to injury.

This is Flacco's second stint with the Browns. He won the AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award in 2023, going 4-1 as a starter and averaging over 300 passing yards per game as Cleveland reached the playoffs for just the third time since his return in 1999.

Flacco hasn't played in any preseason games, but he's seen most of the first-team snaps throughout camp, in addition to getting plenty of work in joint practices against Carolina and Philadelphia.

The veteran player will be in action this Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams, as Stefanski said the end of preseason will serve as a dress rehearsal for the starters.

Pickett was considered Flacco's main competition, but he's been dealing with a hamstring injury. Pickett, a 2022 first-round pick by Pittsburgh, is entering his fourth season after being acquired in a trade with Philadelphia.

Pickett is considered more suited to making plays on the move, but hasn't fully participated in a practice since July 26.

Gabriel, who missed the preseason opener at Carolina last Friday the 8th due to a hamstring strain, played the first half against the Eagles. In five series, he completed 13 of 18 passes for 143 yards.

Sanders missed the second day of joint practices against the Eagles and did not play in the game after suffering an oblique injury last Wednesday. Sanders started against Carolina and completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two TD passes.

Stefanski was optimistic that Pickett or Sanders could return to practice sometime this week.— AP

Flacco Carrera

Joe Flacco entered the NFL after being selected in the first round of the 2008 Draft by the Baltimore Ravens.

Super Bowl

Joe remained with the Ravens, whom he led to a Super Bowl victory, until 2018. Starting in 2019, the season in which he played with the Denver Broncos, he moved around several teams.

Back with the Jets

In 2020, he was with the New York Jets; in 2021, with the Eagles; and he returned to the Jets, where he remained in 2021 and 2022.

Permanence

He was with the Browns in 2023, moved to the Indianapolis Colts last year, and is now returning to Cleveland for his 18th NFL season.