Browns OC trusts 'elite' arm of QB Joe Flacco ready for Rams

Joe Flacco is ready to roll if called upon by the Browns to beat the Rams this week thanks to his "elite" arm strength.

At least that's the view shared by Cleveland offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt on Thursday with Flacco, 38, taking the majority of the first-team reps at quarterback due to Dorian Thompson-Robinson's concussion.

"He has an elite arm. There's no question," Van Pelt said. "If you put it on a scale of 1-5, he's a 5. His ball flight, velocity on the ball at every level of the field is impressive."

A longtime Ravens quarterback and Super Bowl winner, Flacco went 18-3 in his career against the Browns. He'd be the franchise's 39th different starter since 1999 and fourth this season.

Flacco was 1-8 in nine starts with the New York Jets the past three seasons. He was unsigned since the end of the 2022 season until the Browns rang.

That one win was Week 2 of last season over the Browns. Flacco completed 26 of 44 passes for 307 yards and four touchdowns in a 31-30 win.

If he starts Sunday against the Rams and Matthew Stafford (35), the matchup would pit the two oldest starters going head to head in the NFL this season.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski downplayed the loose wires involved in creating a gameplan for quarterbacks with diametrically opposed styles. Thompson-Robinson is a scrambling speedster with the athleticism of a wide receiver. Flacco is more of a throw-it-through-a-wall kind of quarterback in the mold of traditional pocket passers.

"Big, strong arm," Stefanski said. "Obviously, he can make every throw, but he's done a very nice job in the meeting room, getting to know his teammates, getting to know the assistants. He's done a nice job."

The Browns, practicing at UCLA this week, will know more by the end of the day when testing concludes for Thompson-Robinson.

—Field Level Media