The Cleveland Browns are currently set to start veteran Joe Flacco against the Los Angeles Rams fresh off of the practice squad. This is due to a hit from linebacker Baron Browning that left quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson in the concussion protocol in the Browns’ loss to the Denver Broncos a week ago.
However, the NFL did not find the hit, which was flagged as a late hit on Browning, warranted a fine for the Denver linebacker. The Ohio State product left the game unscathed in terms of health and of his checkbook.
This has now caused the Browns to start their fourth quarterback of the season this week in Los Angeles. If the Browns can find a way to sneak out a win against the Rams with Flacco at the helm, they will become the first team since 2015 to rack up notches in the win column with four different quarterbacks under center in the same season.
The former NFL player believes Browns would be successful with Flacco
On Wednesday, Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski announced that Joe Flacco is now the number two quarterback in Cleveland behind rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson. With the rookie in concussion protocol, there is a good chance that Cleveland will start their fourth different quarterback on the season this week.
Speaking on his ESPN show on Wednesday, Pat McAfee said he thinks that Flacco would be a “great quarterback for the Cleveland Browns”. He went on to talk about Flacco’s ability to push the ball downfield and pairing that with their defense it would be “a must watch.”
It does seem likely that he will start on Sunday as the season packed full of adversity will continue to grow due to injury. Kevin Stefanski has a great record following a loss while with Cleveland and he could be primed to improve on that with the former Super Bowl MVP. The Browns are in the driver’s seat for their playoff bid and that continues on Sunday against the Rams.
If the rookie is out, it will be the former Super Bowl MVP.
Rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson is in concussion protocol after a hit on Sunday as the Cleveland Browns lost to the Denver Broncos. The hit drew a roughing the passer penalty and knocked Thompson-Robinson out of the game as he had found his stride. Before Cleveland’s first practice of the week Wednesday, head coach Kevin Stefanski said that if Thompson-Robinson cannot go, it would be veteran Joe Flacco at quarterback against the Los Angeles Rams.
The former Super Bowl MVP with the Baltimore Ravens was signed to the Browns’ practice squad just over a week ago after the win against the Steelers. He wasn’t part of the game-day roster this past Sunday as he learned the playbook, but it sounds like he is up to speed now.
It will be odd to see Flacco in brown and orange after so much time as a Raven, but he brings a ton of experience to the team. He is a statue out in the pocket, though he knows how to manage a game and not be the reason a team loses. He might not win the game, but he should absolutely be average, which is better than what the team has gotten from P.J. Walker.
If Dorian Thompson-Robinson can’t play on Sunday, it seems like Joe Flacco would get the start against the Rams
The Cleveland Browns could be forced to start their fourth different quarterback of the season when they face the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who’s filled in for Deshaun Watson, is in the concussion protocol and not practicing yet.
As a result, it’s Joe Flacco who’s getting the first-team reps in practice to start the week, an indication that the Browns would likely start him over P.J. Walker if Thompson-Robinson can’t play. The Browns just signed Flacco to the practice squad nine days ago so he hasn’t had much time to learn the offense.
Flacco last played in the NFL in 2022, starting three games for the Jets and going 1-2 in those contests. He had five touchdown passes and three interceptions, averaging 210.2 yards per game.
#Browns coach Kevin Stefanski confirms that Joe Flacco is the backup to Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who is in the concussion protocol. If DTR can't go, Flacco would get the start for his former rival.
This season, the Browns are 5-1 with Watson at quarterback and 2-3 with everyone else starting. The Rams will try to make it 2-4 by taking down Cleveland at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, though it’s the Browns defense that should worry the Rams, not the offense.
Where do the Browns quarterbacks Deshaun Watson, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and PJ Walker rank among the NFL in QBR?
The Cleveland Browns have started three quarterbacks this season and may be on their fourth as they take on the Los Angeles Rams this weekend. With Dorian Thompson-Robinson in the concussion protocol, the Browns may turn to Joe Flacco instead of PJ Walker. All of this as starter Deshaun Watson has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a broken shoulder.
The quarterback play the Browns have seen this season has not been great, and anyone with two eyeballs can see that. But just where do these Cleveland quarterbacks fall among the rest of the league? Here, we will use ESPN’s QBR to rank every qualifying quarterback in the NFL, adding in all three from Cleveland.
While QBR is a full body of work metric that will not exclude the slow start that Watson was on or the Baltimore game of Thompson-Robinson’s where he found out he was starting two hours before kickoff, it does give a big picture look.
The offense lost all momentum after the rookie went down
It was a slow start for the offense of the Cleveland Browns, but after they settled in rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson played well. He made several throws that showcased the arm talent he has and started to push the ball down the field which he didn’t do during the win over the Steelers. I think that if he hadn’t gotten injured Cleveland should have been able to win.
The run game was going well at times and Jerome Ford continues to grow as a running back and improve as the season has gone on. He runs hard and is decisive though he struggles to locate some of the cut-back lanes and other opportunities for more yardage.
Though they didn’t convert many drives into points overall it was nice to see the rookie grow. But one thing is clear the Browns cannot start P.J. Walker anymore he just isn’t good enough to play quarterback in the NFL which means if DTR can’t go it should be Joe Flacco as the starter.
Sean Payton when asked about Baron Browning’s penalty: “Those guys worked hard, the officiating crew. They’re tasked with a difficult job.”
Late in the third quarter of Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos outside linebacker Baron Browning hit quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson just as the ball was released on an incomplete pass that would have resulted in 4th-and-12 if not for a late flag.
Officials deemed the hit roughing the passer and penalized Browning, resulting in a first down for the Browns. It was a brutal hit that knocked DTR out of the game with a head injury, but many fans viewed it as a legal play.
After the game, Broncos coach Sean Payton downplayed the controversial call by sidestepping a question about it.
“Those guys worked hard — the officiating crew,” Payton said after an eventual 29-12 win. “They’re tasked with a difficult job. Some of those calls are difficult to make. They have a challenge — they happen so quickly. They had good dialogue.
“[I’ve] worked with a bunch of those guys over the years. I felt like it was good communication. That’s kind of where it was at. It kind of goes back and forth — you get some, sometimes you don’t. They did a good job of communicating everything.”
Payton’s diplomatic answer might not have been so diplomatic if the Browns came back to win. Browning didn’t have much to say about the penalty after the game.
“I didn’t think it was a dirty hit, but they called it,” Browning said. “So what can I do about it?”
Fortunately, Denver’s defense recovered a fumble two plays after the penalty.
“I think it just shows our demeanor and attitude,” Browning said. “We can’t control everything, but what we can control is our response. We responded and got a turnover.”
Twitter/X had mixed reactions to the penalty on Sunday.
Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.
SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks
Pass-Rush
TD
Josh Allen
339-81
4
Jalen Hurts
200-65
5
Dak Prescott
331-10
4
C.J. Stroud
304-47
3
Jordan Love
268-39
3
Running Backs
Rush Rcv
TD
Kyren Williams
16-143
6-61
2
Christian McCaffrey
19-114
5-25
2
Bijan Robinson
16-91
3-32
2
Isiah Pacheco
15-55
5-34
2
Josh Jacobs
20-110
4-15
1
Wide Receivers
Yards
TD
Tyreek Hill
9-102
1
Mike Evans
6-70
2
Rashee Rice
8-107
1
DeVonta Smith
7-106
1
Keenan Allen
14-106
0
Tight Ends
Yards
TD
Pat Freiermuth
9-120
0
Tyler Higbee
5-29
2
Sam LaPorta
5-47
1
Travis Kelce
6-91
0
Gerald Everett
4-43
1
Placekickers
XP
FG
Blake Grupe
0
5
Brandon McManus
1
3
Tyler Bass
4
2
Jason Sanders
4
2
Chris Boswell
1
3
Defense
Sack – TO
TD
Miami
7-2
1
San Francisco
6-2
0
Dallas
4-1
1
Baltimore
3-4
0
Green Bay
3-3
1
Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts
QB D. Thompson-Robinson – Head
QB Baker Mayfield – Ankle
WR Laviska Shenault – Ankle
WR Demario Douglas – Head
WR Rashid Shaheed – Thigh
WR Amari Cooper – Rib
WR Chris Olave – Concussion
Chasing Ambulances
QB D. Thompson-Robinson – Got blasted by a defender and left the field with a bloody lip. Was diagnosed with a concussion. So the Browns will either revert to P.J. Walker as they did in the game, or they promote Joe Flacco from the practice squad. The Browns play at the Jaguars this week.
QB Baker Mayfield – He injured his ankle and looked significant at first, but he later returned to the game. Kyle Trask replaced him in the game for a few plays. He should be good for the Panthers this week.
WR Demario Douglas – He’s been the only Patriot wideout with a shred of fantasy value and he was clotheslined on a punt return though no penalty was called. He’s believed to have a concussion but more should be known by Wednesday at the latest.
WR Rashid Shaheed – Thigh WR Chris Olave – Concussion The Saints’ receivers are in bad shape. Olave hit the ground hard on an attempted catch and was ruled out with a concussion. Shaheed injured his thigh and did not return to the game. Michael Thomas is already on IR. The Saints host the Lions this week and may have little more than A.T. Perry, Keith Kirkwood, and Taysom Hill for receivers.
WR Amari Cooper – He had his arms outstretched for a pass when a Denver defender delivered a crushing shot to his ribs. He was immediately ruled out though his X-rays were negative. The rookie Cedric Tillman was the top wideout with four catches for 55 yards. The Browns play at the Rams this week but it isn’t even certain who the quarterback will be. If Cooper misses time, assumedly Elijah Moore would see more targets but there have been no fantasy-relevant wideouts in Cleveland other than Cooper.
Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables
QB Jake Browning – The replacement for Joe Burrow threw for 227 yards and a touchdown with one interception against the Steelers. He connected with Ja’Marr Chase for 81 yards on four receptions but had no success with the rest of the receivers. The Steelers were also able to hold Joe Mixon to only eight carries for 16 yards, so the absence of Burrow is going to impact both the rushing and receiving.
WR Calvin Ridley – After disappearing for much of the season, Ridley scored on his five catches for 89 yards in the win over the Texans for his second straight game with high yardage and a touchdown. And the last two weeks have been the best performances for Trevor Lawrence.
RB Rachaad White – He popped up on the injury report on Friday as questionable with a thigh injury. Apparently, the pain motivated him because he rushed for a season-high 100 yards and caught two short passes in the loss to the Colts.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson/Ezekiel Elliott – The Pats may not win again this season, as shocking as that seems. They used both Matt Jones and Bailey Zappe in a race to who could throw the most interceptions (Jones won), but the rushing offense wasn’t a disaster. Stevenson (21-98, TD) and Elliott (9-46) were the only part of the offense that scored or gained much yardage. This week they play the Chargers which should benefit them again.
QB Tommy DeVito – He won his last two games and threw for 246 yards and three scores in Week 11. On Sunday, he passed for 191 yards and a touchdown. He also did what was thought impossible when he completed five passes to the rookie Jalin Hyatt, who gained 109 yards – the only 100-yard game by a Giants’ receiver this year.
WR Rashee Rice – The Chiefs desperately need a receiver not currently dating Taylor Swift to make a difference and Patrick Mahomes has already thrown passes to 12 wideouts. Rice has been the most consistent so far, logging around 50 yards and scoring in every other game. Versus the Raiders, he caught a season-best eight passes for 107 yards and a touchdown – the first 100-yard game by a wide receiver. Justin Watson scored for the last two weeks but with minimal yardage. Week 12 was the first time it looked like the Chiefs had an actual No. 1 wideout.
WR Jakobi Meyers – While Aiden O’Connell has continued to throw to Davante Adams, he had failed to connect with Meyers for more than a few catches and minimal yardage. Against a very tough Chiefs secondary, Meyers led the Raiders with six catches for 79 yards and a score. That bodes well for when they return from their Week 13 bye to face the weak defenses of the Vikings and Chargers.
TE Pat Freiermuth – He returned from the back injury in Week 11 after spending six weeks on injured reserve but only caught one pass for seven yards at the Browns. Playing for the first time without OC Matt Canada, Freiermuth posted a career-high nine catches for 120 yards in the win over the Bengals. He only had 13 receptions on the year entering Sunday. The Bengals are weak against the position, but Freiermuth had double the production of any other receiver.
RB Keaton Mitchell – He led the Ravens in rushing with nine carries for 64 yards, plus caught both targets for 25 more yards. The Ravens are committed to their committee backfield, but Mitchell is still generating fantasy points even with the 11-touch workload. That was one more carry than Gus Edwards and three more than Justice Hill.
Huddle player of the week
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
RB Kyren Williams – He spent time on injured reserve with an ankle injury and the Rams said they would have him on a snap count in his first game back. That limitation ended up as 16 carries for 143 yards, plus six receptions for 61 yards with two touchdowns as the No. 1 running back for Week 12. Royce Freeman also ran for 77 yards and a score on 13 carries, so they didn’t give him a “full” workload, just one that helped his fantasy owners win their game – if they ignored what the Rams coaches said before the game.
Salute!
Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry
The Browns had some momentum built up with Dorian Thompson-Robinson, but could not get out of their own way against the Broncos.
All good things must come to an end. After winning their last three and four of their last five, the Cleveland Browns finally found themselves back in the loss column. After losing rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson to a concussion at the end of the third quarter against the Denver Broncos, the game quickly slipped out of reach.
Before exiting, the rookie quarterback had found a stride. He was connecting with his targets over the middle and down the field, picking up chunk plays for the Cleveland offense. However, once P.J. Walker took the field, the Browns found no success on the offensive side of the ball as Russell Wilson and the Broncos have now made it five in a row.
While it is not a joyous 4 Downs as it has been in weeks prior, here is this week’s edition of the postgame instant analysis column. Let’s hope for a better outcome next week.
Browns QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson leaves Broncos game with a concussion after suffering a dirty hit.
Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson leaves the Denver Broncos game with a head injury. Thompson-Robinson was injured when Broncos linebacker Baron Browning launched himself into Thompson-Robinson’s head and shoulder area. The hit immediately drew a penalty for roughing the passer. Thompson-Robinson was seen with a bloody lip when he was walking back into the locker room. He is being evaluated for a concussion.
The Broncos were flagged for a late hit on David Njoku during the third quarter. They are currently without their starting safety Kareem Jackson after he was suspended for multiple dangerous hits to opponents this season. The Denver Broncos are coached by Sean Payton who has an ugly history for running a bounty program.
Hopefully, the Browns will be able to leave the Broncos game with most of their health intact. The Cleveland Browns are currently losing to the Denver Broncos 12-24 entering the final quarter of the game.
