CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – For years Joe Flacco was a thorn in the side of the Cleveland Browns, and he made a career of beating them while with the Baltimore Ravens.
Needing additional quarterback insurance following the loss of Deshaun Watson for the season, Flacco is working out for the Browns Friday.
The news was first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
“I'm not going to comment on workouts and those type of things,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “I typically don't do that. You know, we bring a lot of guys in.”
A photo of Flacco getting on a plane purportedly headed for Cleveland was posted by a user on the social media platform X last night.
Flacco, who went 18-3 in his career against the Browns, threw for 4,945 yards with 31 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 21 games. His passer rating against Cleveland was 89.3.
The former Super Bowl MVP who has 99 regular season wins over 15 years played last season for the New York Jets where he completed 57.6% of his passes for 1,051 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions while going 1-3 in his four starts. Flacco threw for four touchdowns last September in a Jets 31-30 come-from-behind victory at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Within the Browns locker room, players see the value of adding a quarterback with Flacco’s resume.
“Maturity and experience, incredible wisdom that, I mean as much as Deshaun has played, Flacco has seen more,” defensive end Myles Garrett said. “He’s been to the highest levels. He’s won. And he can provide that a little bit of a mentor role if he doesn’t see the field -- being there and being a consistent leader.”
Receiver Elijah Moore played with Flacco for two years in New York.
“I had a great time with him,” Moore said. “He's a great leader. He's a vet and I know anyone that would be around him would have a good time and learn a lot.”
With rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson taking over, Moore believes Flacco would be able to mentor the fifth-round pick, who is tasked with keeping the Browns in the playoff race and getting them to Week 19.
“I feel like Joe's a leader,” Moore said. “I feel like he has a lot of experience. He knows football, and how could you not want to lean on somebody who knows football? They played the game for a long time at a very, very high level, the highest level. MVP level. So major respect to him.”
Flacco, 38, was selected 18th overall by the Ravens in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft and led the franchise to their second Super Bowl title and MVP of Super Bowl XLVI.
Watson suffered a broken bone in his right throwing shoulder during Sunday's 33-31 win over the Ravens in Baltimore and will have surgery next week.
