NFL Insider Predicts Browns Will Bench Joe Flacco Before Midseason

Joe Flacco, the 40-year-old Super Bowl champion, was named starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns, but one NFL insider believes the team will make a change if Cleveland gets out to a slow start.

“When (Browns head coach) Kevin Stefanski tells the world on Sunday, ‘We’re going to name a starting quarterback this week,’ Flacco’s the only one. No one else makes sense,” said Mike Florio on Aug. 19 on the “Pro Football Talk” podcast. “No one else is healthy and it’s two rookies. Flacco’s the guy. He knows the offense.

“He’s the starter until they, I believe, realize their practical chances of getting to the postseason are over, whenever that may be. Once their season is on the rocks, if that happens, and look at the first six games, at some point, probably Week 7, Week 8, Week 9 … we’re gonna see somebody else.”

The Browns Have a Brutal Stretch to Start the Season

The Browns start the NFL regular season against elite teams and play in the tough AFC North division. The first six games are “murderer’s row,” Florio said. The Browns begin the season vs. the Cincinnati Bengals, at the Baltimore Ravens, vs. the Green Bay Packers, at the Detroit Lions, vs. the Minnesota Vikings in London, and at the Pittsburgh Steelers. Their bye comes in Week 9.

Flacco returned to Cleveland after playing for the Browns in 2023. He was the Super Bowl MVP in 2012 with the Ravens, playing in Baltimore his first 10½ seasons. During the 2023 season, Flacco became the starter in Cleveland after Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Flacco went on a tear, becoming the first player in NFL history to have 250 passing yards and multiple passing touchdowns in each of his first five games with a franchise. He led the Browns to the playoffs, where they lost in the first round to the Houston Texans. After one year with the Indianapolis Colts, Flacco agreed to one-year deal with the Browns again in April.

Joe Flacco May Not be Able to Hold Off Rookie Quarterbacks

The Browns currently have six quarterbacks on the roster after making a late addition due to injuries. Kenny Pickett is contending for the backup role but is nursing a hamstring injury. While Cleveland drafted two rookie quarterbacks — Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Watson is still on the roster, but is out with an Achilles injury, and veteran Tyler Huntley signed with the Browns two weeks ago.

Pickett hasn’t played this preseason, but Sanders had a great preseason debut on Aug. 8 against the Carolina Panthers. Sanders in his start went 14-for-23, for 138 passing yards and two touchdowns. Gabriel started the second preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles, where he went 13-for-18, for 143 passing yards, and had one interception.

“There’s just no way you’re gonna be able to hold off the base from Shedeur (Sanders) or Dillion Gabriel. Probably more Shedeur (Sanders) than Dillion Gabriel. But, yea, that seems inevitable at some point,” said Chris Simms, Florio’s co-host.