Cleveland Browns at Los Angeles RamsDecember 3, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA;
Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) watches as he throws the ball in the second half against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.
Earlier this season, a December day between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland
Browns was supposed to be a meeting of two of the NFL’s best young quarterbacks.
Instead, Sunday could be a backup battle with Cleveland’s quarterbacks.
Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson was placed on injured reserve last month and is out for the season with a torn shoulder blade.
Joe Flacco, Cleveland’s fourth starter this season, will make his second start of the week with Dorian Thompson-Robinson limited with a concussion.
Flacco was in charge of first-team practices Wednesday and Thursday, and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said he expects to fully participate in Friday’s practice with both quarterbacks along with Thompson-Robinson.
“It’s definitely refreshing and exciting. That’s what you want,” Flacco said.
“It’s one of the hardest things for professional athletes, but what you always hear is, focus on the moment, you don’t want to think about the outcome.
You want to think about doing your job and everyone else doing theirs.”Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence suffered a foot injury during Monday’s game against Cincinnati, leaving him in a boot and crutches after the game.
He missed practice on Wednesday and returned in a limited capacity on Thursday.
Lawrence was not ruled out Friday, and Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said a decision will “probably” be made during the game.
If Lawrence can’t play, C.J. Bissard gave Jacksonville (8-4) first place, one game ahead of Indianapolis and Houston for first place in the AFC.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said the team is preparing for Lawrence and Beathard to play for the Jaguars.
“They both have the tape.” Stefanski said. “Beatard also has the tapes.
We know what his strengths are. I recently held a team leadership position. “He is a very brave footballer.”
The Jags are without leading receiver Christian Kirk at quarterback.
He suffered a core muscle injury on Monday and was placed on injured reserve on Friday.
The timing is never good for these types of injuries, but this one is especially painful for the Jaguars, who face Cleveland’s arguably the best defense in the NFL this week.
The Browns allowed the fewest yards per game in the NFL at 260.5.Pederson said he understands it’s time for the players to step up.”
That’s what I preach to people here a little bit,” Pederson said.
Players who could fill backup roles or become key players on special teams late in the season now have a chance to play on offense or defense.
Now it was time to go. Now it’s time for them to play. It’s up to the coach to make sure the players are ready, and the coordinator has to make sure the plays in the game plan are something they can handle and feel comfortable with.
No matter the location, it was always the next guy mentality. “It may happen again this week,” he said.
Cleveland (7-5) is in second place in the AFC North, two games behind Baltimore. The Browns have lost two in a row, the most recent setback being a 36-19 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper (concussion) missed practice Wednesday and Thursday.
He has been released from the protocol and is scheduled to practice Friday, but is listed as questionable.
Cleveland wants to rely on its defense to win games. But there is stress in this group as well.
Myles Garrett is dealing with a shoulder injury and cornerback Denzel Ward has been dealing with a shoulder injury the past two weeks.
Ward was able to practice Wednesday and Thursday.–Average at field levelg
