Getty Images The Cleveland Browns aren't ready to name Joe Flacco the starter just yet.
The Cleveland Browns appear poised to start Joe Flacco in Week 13 against the Los Angeles Rams, but head coach Kevin Stefanski is not ready to make the call just yet.
Stefanski was asked about the prospect of starting Flacco over rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson against the Rams on December 3, but he declined to go in depth on his stance.
“We’ll see,” Stefanski told reporters after a 29-12 loss to the Denver Broncos.
Tom Withers of The Associated Press tweeted after the loss that the “Browns appear poised to start their fourth quarterback in 12 games. The next one, though, won a Super Bowl.”
Thompson-Robinson has started the last two games with Deshaun Watson sidelined for the season with a shoulder injury. However, Thompson-Robinson exited Sunday’s game with a concussion after taking a hard hit from a Broncos defender.
His availability and how much he’s able to practice will be key in the decision-making process for the Browns.
“Let’s see how he does with the protocol,” Stefanski told reporters.
Joe Flacco Was in Street Clothes Against Broncos
Thompson-Robinson was decent against the Broncos prior to the injury, albeit the offense lacked explosive plays through the air. He completed 48.3% of his passes for 134 yards and a touchdown. His quarterback rating of 73.1 was his highest of the season.
Thompson-Robinson was 24-of-43 against the Pittsburgh Steelers during a Week 11 win, managing just 165 yards. He also tossed an interception.
Flacco initially signed with the practice squad and the Browns did not elevate him to the active roster to face the Broncos. PJ Walker served as the backup and it wasn’t pretty when he entered for Thompson-Robinson. He fumbled twice — only one of which was recovered by the Browns — and was sacked for a safety late.
Walker spent some time as the starter this season, with the Browns going 2-1 in those games. However, he has shown no ability to take care of the ball, which is essential when the Browns are riding their stellar defense to wins.
It’s clear that if Thompson-Robinson is unable to go, most would like to see Flacco get the shot.
“I can’t take another minute of watching Phillip Walker Jr. trying to play quarterback,” Jason Lloyd of The Athletic tweeted. “If DTR can’t go next week, it has to be Flacco. I can’t believe this is where they’re at, but this is where they’re at.”
Flacco, who won the 2013 Super Bowl MVP as a member of the Baltimore Ravens, would be the fourth starting quarterback for the Browns this season.
Browns Are Dealing With Multiple Key Injuries
Getty ImagesCleveland Browns star DE heard a pop in his shoulder against the Broncos.
The injury to Thompson-Robinson is not the only situation the Browns have to navigate. Superstar pass rusher Myles Garrett and Amari Cooper, the team’s top pass catcher, were injured in the Week 12 loss.
Garrett said he felt a pop in his shoulder and was unable to lift his shoulder to get his shirt on after the game. He left the locker room in a sling. The injury to is to the same left shoulder that Garrett hurt in a car accident last season, according to the Akron Beacon-Journal.
Cooper left the game in the fourth quarter after taking a hard hit. He had X-rays on his ribs after the game but they came back negative. He has far and away been the Browns’ top receiving threat this season. Cooper has 749 yards on 45 catches this season.