Browns Make Final Call on Joe Flacco, Rule Out Pro Bowl Defender vs. Rams

The Cleveland Browns have a quarterback decision to make for Week 13 against the Los Angeles Rams.

The team begins Friday, Dec. 1, with Joe Flacco as the starter and rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson continuing to navigate the league’s concussion protocol. “#Browns Joe Flacco faces Rams,” Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reports for X .

Flacco has Thompson-Robinson (third starter), P.J. He becomes the fourth QB to start 12 games for the Browns this season, following Walker (2 starts) and Deshaun Watson (6 starts). Browns tight ends Denzel Ward, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Marquis Goodwin. A ram came out

Cleveland waived Thompson-Robinson this week, meaning Walker will be Flacco’s backup. Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward and the team’s fastest wide receiver, Marquise Goodwin, will also miss Sunday’s game.

“#Browns waive DTR, Denzel Ward & Marquise Goodwin,” BrownsZone’s Scott Petrak reported Friday. Goodwin continues to battle lingering concussion symptoms and Ward is dealing with a shoulder injury he suffered in the Browns’ win over the Pittsburgh Steelers two weeks ago. Ward missed last Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos with a shoulder injury. For the Browns to compete, Joe Flacco needs to be competent.

Ironically, Flacco’s last win came against the Browns in Week 2 last season when he captained the New York Jets offense. Unfortunately, this is his only win in the last three years. ESPN’s Mina Kimes said on the Dan LeBatard Show on Wednesday that Cleveland can expect a “competent quarterback game” from Flacco against the Rams and could move on if he keeps the starting job for some reason. Given the makeup of the Browns’ roster, that might be enough to get the job done on a regular basis. Walker has been pretty disappointing this season, but Cleveland is 1-1 with him starting and 2-1 in games where he plays a lot of snaps. Thompson-Robinson was disappointing against the Steelers, completing 4 of 4 passes in the Browns’ tight end to lead the offense down the field and secure a three-point victory. Cleveland boasts the best defense in the NFL, giving up 248 yards of total offense per game. According to the Football Database, the team ranks third in rushing yards with 139.5 yards per game. Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper is having another breakout season and is expected to play Sunday in Los Angeles despite suffering a rib injury last week against the Broncos. Flacco will also have the legs of David Njoku, who has career highs in both receptions and receiving yards. Cleveland is 7-4 and currently sits in third place in the AFC North. If the playoffs started today, the Browns would be the sixth seed and face the Jacksonville Jaguars in Florida during Wild Card Weekend.