‘Ton of Confidence’ in Deshaun Watson’s Return and His Future: Cleveland Browns’ Kevin Stefanski
BEREA, Ohio — Without a doubt, Joe Flacco gave the Cleveland Browns’ passing game more energy throughout the five regular season games he participated in. This was especially true during the four games in a row in which he passed for over 300 yards and helped the Browns to victories and a postseason berth.
In his farewell game, Flacco threw back-to-back pick six interceptions to put the game out of reach in the third quarter of the Ravens’ first-round playoff loss to the Texans. For the fifth time in his six starts for the Browns, quarterback Joe Flacco passed for more than 300 yards in the defeat, finishing with 307 yards.
The disappointment of missing the playoffs was the main topic of conversation following the loss to the Texans, but the future of quarterbacking was also a major topic of discussion during Kevin Stefanski’s final press conference of the 2023 season on Sunday.
The majority of the conversation focused on Deshaun Watson, who spent the entire season on injured reserve after having surgery on November 21 to fix a fractured glenoid bone in his shoulder.
Stefanski made the decision to select Watson as the Browns’ starting quarterback as soon as the team starts training for the 2024 campaign.
He was questioned about whether he wanted Flacco to come back and support Watson, though.
I’d leave all those things up to obviously Andrew (Berry) in this offseason,” Stefanski stated. “I will say this about Joe. For this football team, Joe was fantastic. He did a great job. fought ferociously. I know he enjoyed it. Although we obviously wish yesterday’s outcome had turned out differently, I have the utmost respect for Joe and his accomplishments.”
Flacco has stated that he intends to play on and will become an unrestricted free agent in March. Stefanski reported that his exit meeting with Flacco was “great.”
“I had a great meeting with Joe, really, all these guys, but I think Joe is going to work through everything this offseason, as you can imagine,” he remarked. “He’ll work through this offseason and see where it lands. He’s grateful for the opportunity.”
On January 16, Flacco will turn 39. It is unclear if he would be open to rejoining the Browns or if any NFL teams would be interested in signing him to a starting position. Flacco completed 123 of 204 passes for 1,616 yards with 13 touchdowns and 8 interceptions in the five games he started. He received a score of 90.2.
Stefanski remarked, “Obviously, as you guys saw, I mean, he’s talented.” “He helped us win football games. Several of our guys have helped us win football games. So, I think highly of each of these guys.
Flacco threw for 307 yards in the playoff loss to the Texans, his fifth straight 300-yard performance, but he also threw back-to-back interceptions that the Texans recovered for touchdowns, sealing the victory.
Watson was almost certainly going to be the quarterback for the Browns in 2024.
After trading six draft picks, including three first-round selections, the Browns signed Watson to a fully guaranteed contract worth $230 million over five years.
