The Cleveland Browns are kicking the tires on a Super Bowl winning quarterback.
Joe Flacco, who hasn't taken an NFL snap since appearing in five games for the New York Jets last season, is working out for the Browns in the aftermath of Deshaun Watson undergoing season-ending surgery to repair a fractured right throwing shoulder.
The #Browns are hosting a QB workout this morning, and sources say former Super Bowl MVP and #Ravens QB Joe Flacco is among them. Flacco last played for the #Jets and has kept his mind open about a return.
With Deshaun Watson’s injury, adding a practice squad player is likely. pic.twitter.com/93hx9LAsBC
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 17, 2023
The Browns are clearly keeping options open, with rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson slated to make the start Sunday afternoon in Cleveland against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Flacco, 38, won a Super Bowl with the Ravens back in 2013 and has completed 61.6 percent of his passes for 42,320 passing yards with 232 touchdowns to 147 interceptions through his 15-year career with the Ravens, Denver Broncos, and Jets.
After spending the first 11 seasons of his career with the Ravens, Flacco played one season for the Broncos, in 2019, before signing as a free agent with the Jets, where he posted a 1-8 record in nine starts across the the 2020 through 2022 seasons.
Originally chosen No. 18 overall by the Ravens back in 2008, Flacco is Baltimore's all-time leading passer, with a 23,595-yard lead over Lamar Jackson. Now, there's a chance that Flacco could roll into Cleveland and save one of the Ravens' AFC North rivals' postseason aspirations.
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If the regular season ended today, the 6-3 Browns would be in the postseason as an AFC Wild Card. However, Cleveland has struggled all season to get any sort of consistency at quarterback, be it from Walker or Thompson-Robinson, in Watson's absence. Should the Browns sign Flacco, he could potentially be an option to start as early as Week 12, in Denver, especially if Thompson-Robinson struggles this weekend in the rematch against the Steelers, who toppled Cleveland back in Week 2.
With or without Flacco, the Steelers and Browns kickoff on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.