The Browns are considering a new starting quarterback for the season finale.
The Cleveland Browns could reshuffle their quarterbacks for the season finale. But this time it will be by choice rather than necessity.
The Browns have nothing to lose in their Week 18 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Cleveland has clinched the No. 5 seed in the AFC and will face the winner of the AFC South. The Bengals have been ruled out of the playoffs.
It’s an unusual situation for the Browns, but it allows the organization to rest some of its important players. This includes quarterback Joe Flacco, 38. He’s passed for more than 300 yards in four straight games, shaking off any rust from lounging on his sofa for the first couple months of the season.
If Flacco does not play, either PJ Walker or newly signed veteran Jeff Driskel will start. Deshaun Watson, the Browns’ $230 million franchise quarterback, suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in November. Dorian Thompson-Robinson, a rookie quarterback, is also out for the season due to a hip injury.
“We’re working through it all,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said on January 1. “[Driskel] is someone we felt comfortable bringing in. AVP [Alex Van Pelt] had already worked with him in Arizona. In terms of language, there is a lot of overlap between what we do and what they do. With Dorian’s injury, bringing a person in here that we felt comfortable about was important, but we’ll see.”
If Driskel starts, the Browns will have the ability to win games with five different starting quarterbacks. Cleveland is already the first club in NFL history to win at least ten games in a season while using four different quarterbacks.
Starting Driskel could have ramifications beyond his role as a Browns spot starting in Week 18. He was signed to the official roster rather than the practice squad and has the ability to unseat Walker as the backup quarterback.
This season, Walker has seen time as a starter for the Browns, finishing 1-1 in his starts. He also appeared in the bulk of a third game, which the Browns won against the Indianapolis Colts.
When Walker first entered the game, he battled with turnovers. He threw five interceptions and lost a few fumbles.
Driskel, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 235 pounds, is in his ninth NFL season after graduating from Louisiana Tech. Driskel has some starting experience after being drafted in the sixth round by the 49ers in 2016.
The Browns’ decision to rest several starters appears to be a logical one. But, in the run-up to the season finale, Stefanski has been true to form, refusing to say which way the squad is leaning.
“We’re working through all of those things,” Stefanski added. “Of course, we’ll have a plan. We want to end strong, so we’ll have a plan in place, but I’ll keep you updated as the week progresses.”
The Browns have won four straight games. Momentum may be a valuable commodity in the postseason. However, given the Browns’ injury problems this season, resting important players should be a top concern.
“You’re just trying to make what is in the best interest of your football team, whether you play your guys, rest your guys, and as you know, you can’t rest everybody,” Stefanski went on to say. “There are roster constraints.” We finished strong last week, but we need to end strong this week. That’s our mindset, and that’s what we’re attempting.”
For the Week 18 showdown against the Bengals, the Browns are a 4.5-point underdog.
Heavy.com’s J.R. DeGroote covers the Cleveland Browns and the Los Angeles Lakers. As a reporter for West Hawaii Today, he covered local and statewide sports, and he has decades of expertise in digital journalism, having previously worked for SB Nation and Bleacher Report. He has received numerous state, regional, and national awards for sports reporting and photography. More information on J.R. DeGroote
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