Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco harbors no ill feelings toward the New York Jets, the team that opted not to re-sign him after the previous season and also did not bring him back when Aaron Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in this season’s opener. Flacco and the Browns are set to face the Jets on Thursday night, presenting an opportunity to secure the team’s first postseason appearance since 2020.
Reflecting on his time with the Jets, where he spent parts of three seasons, Flacco stated, “I enjoyed my time while I was there, and it is what it is. I’m happy to be where I am, that’s for sure.” Having started the last four games for the Browns, winning three, Flacco’s impressive performance has contributed to Cleveland’s current standing at the 5th seed in the playoff picture, boasting a better than 99% chance of making the postseason according to ESPN’s Football Power Index.
In the past four weeks, Flacco has outpaced all other NFL quarterbacks in passing yards with 1,307. Additionally, he has thrown 10 touchdown passes, a feat shared with Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams and Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers, marking the highest in the league during that period.
Flacco remained unsigned this season until Deshaun Watson, the starting quarterback for Cleveland, suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Following a workout on November 17, Flacco was signed to the Browns’ practice squad just three days later.
Recalling his contributions to the Jets last season, Flacco started four games, including a remarkable 31-30 victory in Week 2 in Cleveland. In that game, he threw four touchdown passes, orchestrating a stunning comeback with two crucial throws in the final two minutes, an experience he deemed the “craziest finish” of his career. However, despite this success, Flacco did not throw another touchdown until joining the Browns this season, as the Jets opted for Zach Wilson, the 2021 No. 2 draft pick, at quarterback.
Maintaining a diplomatic stance, Flacco remarked, “There are 32 teams in the NFL. They’re just another one. I got a lot of guys over there I really respect, and I had an awesome few years in that locker room. So a lot of respect for those guys.”
In a recent development, the Browns placed rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson on injured reserve due to a hip injury, paving the way for PJ Walker, who started two games earlier this season, to assume the role of Cleveland’s backup quarterback.
