The Cleveland Browns signed veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, 38, in November after a shoulder injury ended starter Deshaun Watson’s season. Flacco was a free agent after not signing with a team following the expiration of his contract last March.
When asked if he expected to be playing this year, Flacco said, “Well, I kind of figured I probably would be, the way last season ended. But you know, as I sat at home for most of this year, I was probably beginning to lose a little bit of faith in that.”
Flacco will be facing the New York Jets, one of his former NFL teams, on Thursday night.
When Did Joe Flacco Play for the New York Jets?
Flacco played the first 11 seasons of his career with the Baltimore Ravens after being a first-round pick in 2008. He helped lead the team to a championship and was named Super Bowl XLVII MVP. Flacco was traded to the Denver Broncos a season after the Ravens drafted Lamar Jackson.
After playing eight games, Flacco’s one season in Denver came to an end due to a neck injury.
Flacco, who was born in New Jersey, signed with the Jets in 2020 to be the backup to Sam Darnold, who was the third overall pick in 2018.
Flacco on being a backup: “I’m fully embracing it. I mean, it’s where I am right now. I’m glad to be on a team playing football in some capacity.”
Limited Opportunities as a Backup
Flacco started two games in October 2020 because Darnold hurt his shoulder. Flacco completed 50.7% of his passes with one touchdown and one interception in two games, both losses.
Flacco started two more games in November when Darnold reaggravated his shoulder injury. He had five touchdowns and two interceptions and completed 60% of his passes, but the Jets lost both and dropped to 0-10.
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In 2021, Flacco signed with the Philadelphia Eagles but did not play in a game and was traded back to the Jets.
New York needed help after losing rookie starting quarterback Zach Wilson, the second overall pick, to a sprained knee in late October. In Flacco’s only start of the season, he passed for 291 yards with two touchdowns in a loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Flacco returned to the Jets for the 2022 season and started the first three games because Wilson was injured. Flacco passed for at least 285 yards in each game and threw four touchdown passes in a Week 2 win against the Browns.
After starting the final game, Flacco’s career numbers with the Jets include a 57.5 completion percentage, 14 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions in 12 games. The Jets won one of his nine starts scattered over three seasons.
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