Cleveland Browns are struggling due to mounting injuries and uncertainty at quarterback.
Cleveland Browns are struggling due to mounting injuries and uncertainty at quarterback.
Regrouping occurs, and then some more 2,300 miles away from home. Unfortunately, Kevin Stefanski, the coach of the Cleveland Browns, and his club belong to the latter kind of re-groupers.
The coach and his players, who made a pit stop in Denver on their way to California, will need to regroup significantly after being put through a rigorous workout on Sunday by the Denver Broncos, who are on a roll.
In addition to giving Cleveland a mile-high thrashing in their 29-12 victory, Denver also left the Browns humiliated, confused, and bruised.
A number of important Browns players, including NFL Defensive Player of the Year front-runner Myles Garrett, were injured on Sunday, and it is unclear how they will feel going into Sunday’s game in Los Angeles against the Rams.
Rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, one of four quarterbacks who have started games for the Browns this season, left Sunday’s game in the second half due to a concussion.
Deshaun Watson underwent season-ending shoulder surgery last week.
P.J. Walker, who has started two games and appeared in six this year, has thrown one touchdown pass and five interceptions, been sacked 11 times and fumbled four times.
Before undergoing season-ending surgery, Watson had started six games, threw seven touchdown passes, four interceptions, and been sacked 17 times.
The quarterback merry-go-round has spun so frequently that quarterback number four, veteran Joe Flacco, is waiting in the wings, and could make his Browns’ debut Sunday vs. the Rams.
On Monday Stefanski indicated there is still some hope that Thompson-Robinson, who is still in concussion protocol, could be well enough to start Sunday’s game.
“We have P.J., we have Joe if Dorian’s not available. I’m going to let the protocol play out,” Stefanski said.
If there’s one thing Stefanski and his staff have learned this season it’s how to get a quarterback ready on short notice.
That shouldn’t be a problem for Flacco, should he get the call on Sunday. During his 15-year career Flacco has plenty of experience, but he hasn’t started an NFL game since September 18, 2022, with the Jets.
“I definitely believe I can still play,” said Flacco, who the Browns signed to their practice squad on November 20. The Browns are Flacco’s fourth team.
He spent the first 11 years of his career with the Baltimore Ravens, followed by one year with Denver and three with the Jets. So joining a new team is nothing new to him.
“You come in here and you focus on meeting the new guys that are on your team,” he said. “It just feels like football, and that’s the most important thing.”
At his age, Flacco isn’t going to scare any defenses with his speed, but his experience and feel for the game is obviously more extensive than that of Thompson-Robinson and Walker.
Stefanski stated, “It comes down to any player at any position.” “You capitalize on their advantages.
We would have to modify our approach to any guy at that position according to their skill set because Joe obviously plays quarterback in a different way than Dorian or P.J.
The task of putting the Browns’ offense back on track will fall to whoever starts at quarterback for the team on Sunday against the Rams.
The Browns have averaged little over 12 points per game in their last two games, following a four-game string in late October and early November in which they scored nearly 30 points per game on average.
