Ravens Insider: Joe Flacco named Browns starting QB for Week 1

[ExtremeRavens]

The Browns have their starting quarterback for Week 1.

On Aug. 18, the team announced Coach Kevin Stefanski has named longtime veteran Joe Flacco the starter when Cleveland opens the season Sept. 7 at home against the Bengals.

Flacco, 40, is entering his 18th season in the NFL, most with the Ravens. He is a Super Bowl champion and was named Super Bowl MVP when Baltimore beat the 49ers in 2013 and tied Joe Montana’s playoff record of 11 touchdowns in that postseason.

For Browns fans, it was an instant love affair when in 2023 Flacco was signed late in the season to take over at QB and started five consecutive games, going 4-1, and leading Cleveland into the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

Flacco was again signed in the offseason (after spending 2024 with the Colts) but the team also added Kenny Pickett via a trade and drafted two rookie QBs – Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders – to make a crowded QB room.

During training camp, Flacco emerged as the leader while others were nursing injuries and didn’t give up the spot. Flacco recently told reporters he was getting about 90% of practice reps.

“Yeah, that’s big,” Flacco told reporters before practice with the Eagles on Aug. 13. “It’s obviously advantageous to have a guy back there 90% of the time, and you get going with everybody. You get to hear the cadence, you get to see how he operates and see how he does through tough times and good times.

“That’s all great, but in this league, the situation isn’t always just laid out for you perfectly. You’ve got to be able to adapt, and there’s no excuses. Once it all starts, it’s about winning football games no matter what, and that’s the way I approach it.”

Cleveland’s final preseason game is Aug. 23 at home against the Rams at 1 p.m. It’s unclear if Flacco will play but it would not be a surprise if he’s slotted for a few series.

The last time Flacco started a season opener was 2022 with the Jets. He brings a vast amount of experience to the Browns offense.

“He’s the same guy every single day,” Stefanski said on Aug. 13 about Flacco. “I think that’s one of the things you admire about Joe is how he approaches his business. He’s done a really nice job in camp. He’s also done a really nice job just providing leadership to the quarterback room, to the offense and to the football team.”

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