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Browns QB Joe Flacco stunk in Sunday's loss at Detroit. He went just 16-of-34 passing with no TDs and a pair of INTs. One came on a legitimately nice catch by Lions CB D.J. Reed after WR Jerry Jeudy went down near the sideline. The other looked like a ball that volunteered to sacrifice itself, floating well beyond anyone wearing the same color as the aged QB. Flacco also took three sacks and lost a fumble. His 184 yards marked a third straight game south of 200. Flacco has also finished three straight games short of 59% completion rates, totaled 6 INTs across his four outings, and decreased his passer rating every week:
HC Kevin Stefanski, asked after the game whether he'll consider a QB change: "I understand the question, especially when we are struggling the way we are on offense. But that's not our focus right now. To have any success on either side of the ball, you need to play well and play together. Right now, we have too many things going wrong, and we all own that. It isn't because of one player."
Flacco: "I know what I signed up for. I signed up for coming in and competing for a job and then leading this team to victories. You know that everybody's always being evaluated in this league."
Flacco's not getting much help from a limited WR corps whose leader -- Jerry Jeudy -- has dropped passes in three of four games. But the 40-year-old QB is obviously a large part of the problem.
The main thing keeping him in the lineup, though, is the primary reason he got there in the first place: Cleveland doesn't have an answer at the position.
Third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel is the backup. Fifth-round classmate Shedeur Sanders sits behind him. Gabriel saw his second game action of the season Sunday but has now played 10 total snaps and attempted four passes in garbage-time situations.
We'll likely see Gabriel get a shot at some point. Not only does Flacco offer no hope, but Cleveland will need to figure out whether it has anything to build with at QB before the 2026 offseason.
The Browns get another tough defense in a Week 5 European clash with Minnesota. Then come three more games (against softer foes) before the Week 9 bye.
Every Flacco clunker puts us closer to getting Gabriel on the field. We certainly can't consider the rookie a good bet for meaningful passing production, but he'll at least present lots more rushing potential.
Consider stashing Gabriel in multi-QB formats where he's available, as long as it makes sense for your roster.
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