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Cleveland Browns hosting Joe Flacco for workout after Deshaun Watson injury

profilephotocropby:Suzanne Halliburton•11/17/23•

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Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Flacco, the 38-year-old quarterback with a Super Bowl ring, is working out Friday morning in Cleveland as he auditions for a roster spot with the Browns.

A report from Cleveland.com said that Flacco will be the only quarterback the Browns will audition this morning. It’s all to add to Cleveland’s depth at the position, now that Deshaun Watson is gone for the year after fracturing his shoulder socket last Sunday in a gritty victory over the Ravens. The Browns aren’t necessarily looking for a starter. If they sign a quarterback, the player could go to the actuve roster or practice squad.

Meanwhile, Flacco hasn’t played a down of football since last season’s finale when he was a fill-in starter with the Jets. If he signs with any team and makes the 53-man roster, he’d be the oldest active quarterback in the NFL. Aaron Rodgers, who will be 40 in early December, had been the oldest to start the season. But he’s now on injured reserve.

Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski already has announced that rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson will start Sunday against the Steelers in a key AFC North division game. Both teams are tied with 6-3 records and are trying to keep up with the Ravens.

The Browns named rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson as their starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Steelers. Cleveland is bringing in Joe Flacco for a Friday morning workout. (Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports)

Browns turning to rookie quarterback against Steelers

The game will be Thompson-Robinson’s second start for the Browns. Cleveland selected the former UCLA standout in the fifth round of April’s draft.

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“I know what to expect now,” Thompson-Robinson said Thursday when he met with reporters. “I’m not stepping out there for the first time — not going out there wide-eyed anymore.”

He added: “I know what it takes now to be an NFL quarterback, not just a college quarterback. I think I’ve taken that next step.”

We know that Flacco knows how to be a good NFL quarterback. He started for the Ravens when the team beat the 49ers in the Super Bowl a decade ago. Flacco even knows how to beat the Browns. He’s 28-3 against them. Cleveland coaches will try and figure out whether Flacco can help them win. Even in the twighlight of his career, Flacco could beat the Browns. He did so late last year in a comeback victory when he was with the Jets.

The Browns also can turn to PJ Walker, the journeyman quarterback who has nine starts in his career.