Quarterback Joe Flacco hadn’t taken a snap in 2023 when he stepped into the Cleveland Browns’ starting lineup on Dec. 3. He hadn’t been an NFL team’s No. 1 QB since 2019 and hadn’t played a full season since 2017.
But Flacco has done something for the Browns and wide receiver Amari Cooper.
“I think the best way to probably describe it is he’s like a faith multiplier,” Cooper said. “When he came in, it’s like a weight lifted off of our shoulders. This the guy. We trust in him, for whatever reason, because a lot of guys, they know of Joe, but they haven’t seen him play every game. It’s just his credentials – Super Bowl winner, consistent quarterback, throws a great ball, has a great understanding of the game, so I think that’s what draws everybody to him.”
Cleveland’s top quarterback, Deshaun Watson, missed three of the first nine games this season and went out for good following a 33-31 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 12. Before turning to Flacco, the Browns started rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson in three games and P.J. Walker in two.
“Every quarterback is a little bit different in terms of their timing and everything like that,” Cooper said, “so I would say with each week, I’m learning him more, picking up on his timing, how he likes to throw certain routes, so I would say we’re growing, for sure.”
“Receivers, even though they shouldn’t, we all like to think about the yards after the catch. Sometimes we neglect actually the catch point. That’s how a lot of receivers drop balls. But it seems like with a quarterback like Joe, you can kind of get away with that because you don’t really have to think about catching the ball because it’s such an easy grab.”
Cooper has recorded 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022. In his nine NFL seasons, Cooper has missed three games.
The Browns visit the Houston Texans at noon CST Sunday. At 9-5, Cleveland has eight ways to clinch a postseason spot on Sunday. Each of the scenarios includes the Browns beating the Texans coupled with losses by the right set of rivals.
