30 November 2023 , 20:11
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The Cleveland Browns will start veteran Joe Flacco at quarterback this weekend against the Los Angeles Rams if rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson remains in concussion protocol.
Flacco, 38, would become the fourth play-caller the Browns have started this season, something the organization has not done since 2008 when they went 4-12. Before that, it had only happened once in franchise history, during the 1988 season, when they did make the playoffs with a 10-6 record before narrowly losing 24-23 to the Houston Oilers in the AFC wild-card game.
They will hope to overcome these injury issues to achieve something similar 35 years later if Flacco takes to the field. Cleveland are 7-4 and third in the fiercely competitive AFC North.
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Here is how the Browns got here...
Deshaun Watson
After missing the first 11 games last season through league suspension, the expectation was that Watson would at least play more than during his debut season in Cleveland. However, injuring the rotator cuff in his throwing arm in Week 3 against the Tennessee Titans eventually ended those hopes.
Despite returning in Week 7 and then playing Weeks 9 and 10, he eventually underwent season-ending surgery on a shoulder fracture. That means he played six games in 2023, the same amount as a year ago.
Deshaun Watson is out for the season after undergoing surgery on his throwing arm shoulderDorian Thompson-Robinson
With Watson out for Week 4, Thompson-Robinson stepped in hours before kick-off to start against the Baltimore Ravens and make his NFL debut. It was far from a dream start as he threw three interceeption in the 28-3 loss.
PJ Walker then replaced him for their next game after a Week 5 bye week. However, the rookie who impressed enough in preseason to beat out Josh Dobbs for a roster spot, got another chance to start after Watson's surgery. Thompson-Robinson has started each of Cleveland's previous two games but exited the last one with a concussion and is questionable to start Week 13.
PJ Walker
The practice squad signing first made the active roster for Week 4 and was starting two weeks on against the San Francisco 49ers. Walker led them to a surprise 19-17 win but would be replaced by the returning Watson the following week.
However, he was on hand to replace his starter, who left the field early, and led Cleveland to a last-minute win over the Indianapolis Colts. He was soon signed to the active roster and started again in Week 8, but now finds himself the third-string quarterback behind Thompson-Robinson and...
Joe Flacco
A little over a week after signing for the Browns, the veteran has been taking snaps in practice and head coach Kevin Stefanski has confirmed Flacco is up to second on the depth chart. While he has not played a game since Week 18 last season for the New York Jets, if Thompson-Robinson, who did not practice Wednesday, cannot recover in time, Super Bowl XLVII champion and MVP Flacco will debut for his fifth franchise Sunday night a month-and-a-half months before turning 39.