Former Cleveland Browns quarterback and NFL Comeback Player of the Year winner Joe Flacco reached an agreement with the Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday on a one-year deal worth up to $8.7 million, including $4.5 million guaranteed, according to sources. Flacco came off his couch to unexpectedly lead the Browns to the postseason in 2023, ultimately finishing with 1,616 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions in five starts during the regular season. The 39-year-old veteran will now head to Indy to replace Gardner Minshew as the primary backup for young signal-caller Anthony Richardson, who saw his rookie season come to an end early last year due to a shoulder injury. Given Richardson's propensity to run with the ball, another injury in 2024 could force Flacco back into the spotlight.
Quarterback Joe Flacco, who won the 2023 NFL Comeback Player of the Year with the Cleveland Browns, wants to return to the team, according to a league source. The two sides met regarding the possibility of a reunion at the NFL scouting combine last week. Flacco will become an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday, March 13, and can sign with any team at that time. If he stays in Cleveland, he'd undoubtedly be the backup to Deshaun Watson. After leading the Browns to the postseason in 2023, teams probably won't strictly be considering him as an emergency option in 2024, but it remains to be seen if he'd get a chance to compete for a starting gig outside of Cleveland. The 39-year-old defied all expectations last year with Cleveland, and although it was a cool story, it's unlikely to repeat itself again in 2024.
Cleveland Browns impending free-agent quarterback Joe Flacco made an improbable run late in the season to earn the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award while taking the team to the postseason, but he's almost definitely moving on this offseason, according to The Athletic's Zac Jackson. Deshaun Watson will be returning from his shoulder injury as the starter under center in 2024, and while last year was a disappointment in his second year in Cleveland, he did have some big moments as well. In five regular season games, Flacco threw for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions for the Browns after many thought his career was essentially over. The performance should land him a backup role somewhere in 2024, but it's unlikely to be in Cleveland.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco was named the 2023 NFL Comeback Player of the Year on Thursday. Flacco was a free agent for most of the season before the Browns signed him late in the year due to a season-ending injury to starter Deshaun Watson (shoulder). The 39-year-old eventually won the starting job and went 4-1 down the stretch to lead the team to the postseason. In those five starts, he threw for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions before the team ultimately lost in the wild-card round of the playoffs. The 2023 resurgence has given Flacco the passion to continue playing in 2024. It's uncertain if Cleveland will actually re-sign him, but Flacco's performance this past season should at least have the Browns considering him as insurance again for Watson.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco, who is a Comeback Player of the Year finalist, intends to play next season in the NFL. Flacco is an impending free agent and will most likely have to settle for a backup role. However, the 39-year-old proved that he can still lead an offense after taking over under center in Cleveland in Week 13 and leading the team to a playoff berth in the absence of Deshaun Watson (shoulder). The Browns came up short in the wild-card round against the Houston Texans, but Flacco surpassed expectations, throwing for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions in five starts to close out the year. It's possible the Browns re-sign Flacco to serve as insurance for Watson, but either way, Flacco isn't going to be on the fantasy radar to begin the 2024 season.
During a Monday media availability, Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry said the team is open to bringing quarterback Joe Flacco back for the 2024 season. The 39-year-old signed with Cleveland's practice squad in late November, following Deshaun Watson's season-ending shoulder injury. Quarterbacks P.J. Walker and Dorian Thompson-Robinson struggled, so Flacco was brought in as veteran competition. Flacco started five regular-season games this year, winning four of them while throwing for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He struggled in the AFC wild-card loss to the Houston Texans, throwing two pick-sixes. However, he showed he can still lead an offense. "We'd absolutely love to have Joe back, he's a good quarterback," Berry said. "I guess maybe a little bit similar to Jacoby Brissett last year. It depends, right? I want to bring all of our good players back, but there are constraints to that. Would have no problem having Joe back." It sounds like Flacco would be Watson's backup in 2024 if he's retained, but he'd be worth rostering in two-QB or superflex leagues, given Watson's recent slew of injury concerns.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco completed 34 of his 46 passes for 307 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions while adding three carries for 13 yards in a 45-14 loss to the Houston Texans in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday. Flacco's final stat line doesn't look too bad but both of his interceptions were momentum killers. The veteran quarterback threw pick-sixes on back-to-back possessions in the third quarter, turning a 24-14 deficit into a 38-14 deficit. Flacco turned in some magical moments in his late-season tenure as Cleveland's starting quarterback but it is safe to assume that Deshaun Watson will be back as the team's starter in the 2024 season. A pending free-agent, Flacco could remain in Cleveland as a backup or try to catch on as a bridge option somewhere else this offseason.
Joe Flacco Draws Excellent Matchup For Wild-Card Round
Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (calf) practiced fully all week despite being listed on the team's injury report with a calf issue. Flacco will look to continue his late-season success heading into a Saturday matchup against the Houston Texans in the first round of the NFL playoffs. These two teams met back in Week 16, with Flacco shredding Houston's pass defense for 368 yards and three touchdowns. In the regular season, the Texans were quite generous to quarterbacks, allowing the 11th-most fantasy points per game to the position. Flacco is a solid DFS choice this weekend for fantasy gamers looking to save a bit of money at the quarterback position for their lineups.
Joe Flacco To Be Rested, Jeff Driskel Starting In Week 18
The Cleveland Browns will rest quarterback Joe Flacco for the Week 18 regular season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday with the team already locked into the No. 5 seed in the AFC for the playoffs. With the Browns resting Flacco, Jeff Driskel will make the start and P.J. Walker will back him up. The 30-year-old Driskel will only be worth looking at for fantasy managers that are in a bind in two-QB superflex leagues this weekend. He'll be playing for the first time this season. Driskel spent the 2022 season with the Houston Texans and played in seven games (two starts), going 14-for-20 for 108 yards passing, one touchdown and no interceptions. It's likely the Browns will rest other key starters on offense like receiver Amari Cooper (heel), too, so make sure to check back for updates this week.
With the Cleveland Browns locked into the No. 5 seed in the AFC for the postseason, head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Monday that the organization is still "working through" the possibilities and balancing the objectives in terms of resting key players in the Week 18 regular season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals were eliminated from postseason contention with their Week 17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The most obvious decision involves quarterback Joe Flacco, who will turn 39 on Jan. 16. He's been such a critical piece of the team's strong finish this year that keeping him safe on the sideline this Sunday makes sense. Stefanski said "we'll see" if Jeff Driskel is an option to start if Flacco is rested in Week 18. P.J. Walker would be another option to run the Browns' offense in a meaningless game.
