In a move that would normally only be made hypothetically on message boards by desperate football fans, the Cleveland Browns not only signed veteran Joe Flacco to their practice squad following the news that Deshaun Watson was lost for the year with a shoulder injury but he has now been activated to the 53-man roster and named the starting quarterback vs. the Rams on Sunday.

Rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson suffered a concussion in a loss to the Broncos last week and will be unavailable against the Rams; rather than go with veteran P.J. Walker on Sunday in Los Angeles, Cleveland decided to give Flacco the first-team reps in practice throughout the week.

Walker, 28, may be a veteran who has already started two games for the Browns this year, but he’s no Flacco.

At least that’s what head coach Kevin Stefanski is likely thinking. Speaking of desperate, Stefanski probably can’t believe his luck. Cleveland came into 2023 with much promise and got off to a great start. Unfortunately, following a come-from-behind victory in Baltimore on November 12–a win that improved Cleveland’s record to 6-3–word came down about Watson’s season-ending injury.

Ouch.

The Browns did manage to defeat Pittsburgh at home by a score of 13-10 on November 19, but it was an ugly and uninspiring offensive performance by everyone–including the rookie Thompson-Robinson.

Yes, the Browns were 7-3 and in great shape in the playoff race, but were they really? They couldn’t have felt that way following a 29-12 loss in Denver on November 26.

What to do? After all, Cleveland has a great roster this year, on both offense and defense, and even competent quarterback play could make the difference.

Enter Flacco.

Here is a man who has seen a lot since the Ravens picked him in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He helped guide Baltimore to the AFC title game in his rookie season.

Three years later, Flacco had the Ravens seconds away from a Super Bowl appearance, only for that dream to be shattered thanks to receiver Lee Evans and kicker Billy Cundiff.

The Ravens were back in the AFC Championship Game one year later and in the same venue–Gillette Stadium–and Flacco was the best quarterback on the field in a 28-13 victory over the mighty Patriots that clinched a spot in Super Bowl XLVII.

The Ravens defeated San Francisco two weeks later, and Flacco, who threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns, was named MVP.

Flacco threw 11 touchdowns to zero interceptions during the Ravens’ four-game postseason run and earned himself a lucrative contract.

Flacco never again guided the Ravens to the Super Bowl following that amazing 2012 season, and he was eventually ousted as the starting quarterback midway through the 2018 season in favor of rookie Lamar Jackson.

Flacco has bounced around the NFL as a journeyman since 2019. After stints with the Broncos and Eagles and multiple stints with the Jets, Flacco found himself without a team for most of 2023.

Now, he’s back in the AFC North and looking to make a difference. On paper, Flacco, who has passed for 42,320 career yards and has thrown 232 touchdown passes to 147 interceptions, is the second-best quarterback in the AFC North, behind his successor in Baltimore, Jackson.

But at age 38, does Flacco have enough in the tank to lead the Browns to only their third playoff appearance since coming back into the NFL as an expansion franchise in 1999?

I can’t answer that question, but as the title says, it’s certainly no surprise that Stefanski is going to give him a shot to lead the Browns to victory on Sunday.

And if he can do that, there is no doubt in my mind that Stefanski will give Flacco the keys to the Browns offense for the remainder of the 2023 campaign.

Joe Flacco is back in the AFC North.