As the healthiest quarterback at Browns camp, the 40-year-old former Ravens quarterback took the majority of first-team reps in recent practices and separated himself from the large group in Cleveland’s quarterback room.
Kenny Pickett suffered a hamstring injury early in training camp and hasn’t taken 11-on-11 reps since July 26. Third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel suffered hamstring tightness earlier in camp. Fifth-round rookie Shedeur Sanders suffered an oblique injury last week and did not play in Saturday’s preseason victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
That leaves Flacco, who is entering his 18th season, as the starting quarterback versus the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. It remains to be seen how the depth chart behind Flacco will shake out among a group that also includes rookie former Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley.
Flacco led the Browns to the playoffs in 2023 during his first stint with them, starting the final five games of the regular season during Cleveland’s run to a wild-card berth. He spent last year with the Indianapolis Colts, starting six games before re-signing with the Browns during the offseason.
Flacco’s most heralded run was with the Ravens, where he spent his first 11 NFL seasons (2008-18). He played lights out in Baltimore’s 2012 playoff run that culminated with a 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII. Flacco threw 11 touchdown passes and no interceptions in four playoff games that season and was named Super Bowl MVP.
The last time Flacco started a game in Baltimore was on Nov. 4, 2018, when the Ravens lost to the Steelers, 23-18, and Flacco suffered a hip injury that opened the door for Lamar Jackson to take over as the Ravens’ starter.
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