After Workout With Browns, Is Joe Flacco Signing With Cleveland?

The Super Bowl champion was reported to be in Cleveland for a workout on Friday as the Browns look to bolster their quarterback room

In the aftermath of Deshaun Watson suffering a season-ending shoulder injury, the Cleveland Browns are looking to add a third quarterback to their roster. 

On Friday, multiple reports revealed they were working out former Ravens signal caller, Joe Flacco – something head coach Kevin Stefanski would not comment on. Now reports say Flacco has left Cleveland without a deal. 

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reveals that the two sides did not come to an agreement after the veteran's workout in Berea. However, that doesn't mean a deal won't get done as Fowler notes it simply could be a logistical hurdle preventing Cleveland from adding Flacco. That said, the Super Bowl champion won't be part of the Browns plans for Sunday's matchup with Pittsburgh.

Following his workout, Joe Flacco is not expected to sign with the #Browns today, per source. That could be logistical - he wouldn’t be involved in the Week 11 gameplan this late in the week anyway. So, Flacco will head home and both sides can assess.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) November 17, 2023

Without Watson, Cleveland plans to start rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson against their division rival. General manager Andrew Berry made it clear this week that the team would be adding a third quarterback at some point based on their philosophy on the position. Following the Steelers game, the Browns brass could certainly reassess their interest in Flacco and come to an agreement early next week. 

At 38, Flacco is in the late stages of his career having bounced between the Broncos and, most recently, the Jets after spending 11 seasons in Baltimore. Last season, Flacco led a miraculous, 13-point comeback against the Browns in the final two minutes of their Week 2 meeting. He played in just five total games New York last season, with four starts. Flacco finished the 2022 campaign 110-of-191 passing, for 1,051 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions.

Report: Browns Working Out QBs Friday, Including Joe Flacco

In his last year in Baltimore in 2018, Flacco played in nine games before a hip injury cost him the remainder of that season. A year prior wound up being the last time Flacco played a full 16-game slate for any team.

Browns wideout Elijah Moore, spent the 2022 campaign with Flacco in New York and offered some praise for the veteran on Friday.

“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 play the game for a long time at a very high level, the highest level, MVP level. So major respect to him."

Flacco would certainly bring a veteran presence to Cleveland's inexperienced quarterback room.